LIB RARY_OF CONGR ESS. 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



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ROD AND STAFF 



CORRECTION AND COMFORT 

A BOOK OF 

RELIGIOUS MISCELLANY 

SELECTED FROM THE WRITINGS OF 

O. E. OOPP. 

A BOOK FOE EVERYBODY. 



bei:ng a portion of his contributions to various 
religious papers from 1877 to the pj 
with some new copy ai 




Edited and Compiled by the Author, assisted by the 
Publisher. 



With an Introduction by Rev. D. T. Taylor. 



YARMOUTH, MAINE: 

SCRIPTURAL PUBLICATION SOCIETY, 
Address, I. C. WELLCOME. 



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COPYRIGHT 1889 



Stereotyped and Printed by 
B. THURSTON & CO., PORTLAND, ME. 



INTRODUCTION. 



This volume, compiled and published at the request 
of friends, is made up mainly of the author's contribu- 
tions which have appeared in various religious papers 
since his first literary venture, October 17, 1877, 
along with unpublished pieces thereto added, all of which 
is carefully arranged, in proper order, so that beginning 
with the Bible as a rule of faith and practice, the Script- 
ure themes that follow fall in naturally in the order in 
which they should come to our understanding. The 
black-board cuts are the work of the author, a farmer's 
son from the Granite State, born in 1848, and beginning 
his Christian life January 8, 1876, and who although not 
an engraver, appears in the role of the artist, while his 
professional work with the brush during seventeen years 
past as master car painter for a leading New England 
railroad company is only excelled by the artistic pen-work 
exhibited in this valuable volume, where like his flowers 
on '' [N'ahum's Chariots," the ''apples of gold are set in 
baskets of silver." 

The curious reader will find nothing dull or prosy in 
these papers, but a series, sprightly, comforting, helpful, 
and filling a useful place in religious literature. Variety 
meets the eye on every page — its broken crumbs well 
spiced and dealt out in fragments furnish food for all 
classes. Nothing is " To be continued." If a page does 
not suit the taste, by turning the leaf you may find some- 
thing that will. Conscientiously pressed into the field as 
a religious writer now twelve years ago, we think he has 



4 INTRODUCTION. 

not mistaken his calling. It were a loss to the church to 
allow such original thoughts, illustrations, sallies, pun- 
gent thrusts, sharp reproofs, and earnest loving counsels, 
to be swallowed up from sight in the columns of an obso- 
lete weekly — read once and then vanishing: out of mem- 
ory. It is commendable wisdom to gather up such pearls 
of the mind and set them in the locket of a bound volume. 

Believers will be made wiser by the perusal of these 
pages, unbelievers will be attracted by his genial spirit, 
the ease of his expression, and the open frankness of his 
manner. There cannot be all abroad too many good 
books, penned with pure and sincere motive, unques- 
tioned ability, and sound in doctrine. The finis of some 
books should have been placed at the title page, while 
the productions of some authors never die and ought to 
be graven in memory. He whose faith is strong and in- 
telligent, whose soul is firm, and utterance vigorous, is 
worthy to be heard, and is needed in the hour of trial and 
the race for eternal life. It is therefore believed that this 
volume, embracing so great a variety of topics, and 
phrased in the author's rare style, will prove a blessing 
to the Christian world and meet a felt want in the quick- 
ening of believers. 

The needs of the higher life for all, the vanity of 
shams, the solemn work of soul-saving, the straight lines 
of a true life are emphasized by a hand that writes for 
God and Eternity. Strong words born of experience and 
keen knowledge of men and things are thrust upon one 
with no slow, tortuous method or doubtful meaning. 
The writer comes directly to his themes, he wastes no 
time nor terms, but moves right at the heart and mind. 
No line is heavy or dull — not one is vain or light. Com- 



INTRODUCTION. 5 

fort, and hopefulness clothe the page, you feel it as you 
read. If you wince at sharp home-thrusts from one who 
hates hypocrisy, you are conscious of their need and are 
still deeply impressed with the sincerity and earnestness 
of the words. Eight living more than doctrine is dis- 
cussed, nevertheless the latter is convincingly touched 
upon, and polemical ability in the handling is patent. 
We feel disciplined by a master hand, as we read. It is 
the hand of the wise instructing the ignorant, the strong 
uplifting and supporting the weak. The author's pen 
seems at times girded with might, and his tones like 
those of a successful commander cheer the reader onward. 
It is Great-Heart aiding Pilgrim. We start along the 
way renewed, encouraged, strengthened, as if we breathed 
a new and vitalizing air, or quaffed some elixir of life. 
An hour of such reading is worth a whole century of 
senseless secular twaddle from vain and empty minds. 

We can cordially recommend this work to all, in the 
belief that it will attract, instruct, and benefit the reader. 
It so handles and deals with the varied phases of Chris- 
tian character in religious life, its faults, its weakness, 
its peculiarities, and so clothes reproving words with a 
racy charm at once sharply trenchant while charitably 
kind, as that none can take offence. It rebukes, exhorts, 
entreats, persuades, warns — in short the power of the 
pen is invoked in a wa^' to uplift, comfort and reform, 
without harming or disheartening any child of God. 
Such a writer has a glorious mission and is worthy of a 
hearing. We bespeak for him as a fellow brother in 
Christ, many readers in every branch of the waiting 

church of Jesus. 

D. T. Taylor. 
Hyde Park, Mass., June 23, 1889. 



CHAPTER L 



THE BIBLE AND HUMAN EXPERIENCE. 



If in our rambles through fields, pastures, or by 
the wayside, we should chance to discover a piece of 
a broken stone, which attracted our attention by the 
singular appearance of its broken surface, its angles 
and crystals, sufficiently to cause us to pick it up, 
and carry it along with us, and later in the day, and 
somewhat remote from that spot should find another 
portion of a broken stone, which so resembled the 
former piece in color and outline as to suggest to our 
mind that they might belong together, and should 
pick it up and place the two broken pieces together, 
and the result should be a perfect fit — a whole stone 
and seamlesss in its appearance, what ought to be our 
conclusion in the matter? That they belonged to- 
gether, you would rationally reply, and though the 
circumstances of their being so far apart would be 
apparently against it, you would still make the same 
reply. Well, that should be our reasonable conclu- 
sion respecting the Bible and human needs. They 
belong together. The wonderful book fits human 
experience and wants ; and this is what makes it 
wonderful. Separate the Bible thus from man, and 
let us pick it up in our rambles as simply a curiosity ; 
when we place the two together we shall exclaim with 
wonder, love and praise. 



8 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

It seems to me that if we would, even in this dis- 
believing age, look at this matter in a candidly intel- 
ligent way, we ought not to feel forced to any other 
conclusion than that God was the ruling spirit in the 
production of the Bible, and that it was wisely made 
for our imperative needs. 

Take up the broken stone of human experience, 
and look at it thoughtfully. The similitude between 
it and the life the Bible reveals, you must see, is 
somewhat apt. Human life seems to have been 
broken off from something, which, joined to its 
counterpart, must have been a grand whole. Look at 
the stern facts of human woe. See the unalterable 
decree of death daily executed. This huge crystal 
finds no corresponding niche in science, which infi- 
dels in vain have endeavored to adjust or reconcile 
with it. But in the blessed Book of God which 
we have found, we discover its history and final end. 
Victory over death perches there like the white- 
winged dove of peace. No ray of light pierces 
through the dense darkness of the tomb, save that 
which brightly shines from the Word of God. 

Not only are these things true of death, but of all 
other woes of life. In the short and perilous voyage 
we come to experiences when we look in vain for suc- 
cor and solace to what human wisdom can devise or 
offer ; and in that hour of bitter want there seems to 
be an instinct in the untrammelled spirit, unfettered 
by modern infidelity, which causes it to fly away to 
the great Source of things. Well, the Bible not 
only sets forth this great Source as a God of love, 
but describes a clearly-marked and well-trodden ave- 
nue of approach to Him — prayer. 

What a mystery are many of the phenomena of 



THE BIBLE. 9 

this life. Busy brains are ever at work to solve 
them ; and yet in the Bible they find their readiest 
and most rational solution. And what is not there 
solved is pronjised to be when " that perfect day " 
therein promised comes ; when that which is in part 
shall be done away ; " when the mystery of God shall 
be finished, as He hath declared to His servants, the 
prophets." 

I beg of you, dear reader, to consider your safety, 
and press God's Word hard against your life and ex- 
perience, and see if a marvelous reconciliation of 
what may otherwise be meaningless to you is not the 
result. Be candid. Do not fly away to the poor 
consolations of modern infidelity in your fits of impa- 
tience. Many a noble bark has gone to pieces there, 
which, with better pilotage, might have safely cast 
anchor within the vail. 

The writer addresses you from experience in these 
matters. He was a skeptic of the skeptics ; but since 
he began to turn the helm of his craft with reference 
to the only true Chart that can be relied on as laying 
down all the sunken rocks and dangers with which 
life's rugged sea is beset, hope, joy, love and peace 
have taken the place of doubt, misery, hatred and 
turmoil. He loves doubters, therefore, and, instead 
of annihilating them, would point them to the same 
joys which he possesses. 



10 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

BELIEVING THE BIBLE. 

There is every promise to be gained by believing 
God's Word ; but no penalties can be avoided by dis- 
believing it. Unbelievers should make a note of this. 
They have become so used to hearing Christians tell 
about gaining all by faith that they seem to think 
they will escape all punishment by disbelief. This is 
a fatal snare. In our courts the judge is not in the 
habit of asking the prisoner at the bar whether he 
credits the testimony of the witnesses or not before 
pronouncing sentence; that matter lies with the 
judicial part of the court; and if the testimony is 
insufficient to convict the prisoner, the court acquits 
him. 

The guilty, and unrepentant, and incorrigibly 
wicked prisoner does not feel well disposed toward a 
witness who he knows will bring in damaging and 
convicting testimony against him ; and he would put 
this witness out of the way if he could. And this is 
the real motive of many who would do away with 
God's testimony — the Bible; it convicts^ and they 
want to belittle its testimony, or put it out of the way 
altogether. Supposing we should do away with a few 
books of the Bible, or a large portion of it even, 
there would be enough left to convict us then. But 
this is useless. Though put tothe most severe test of 
cross-examination and effort to lead it to falsification 
ever since it took the witness-stand — abused, as- 
saulted, and left for dead — yet life is in it, and it 
still testifies and sticks to the old story that man by 
nature is a sinner, and will have to receive the grace 
of God to be saved. Every now and then some 
smart lawyer rises up to break down this witness, 



THE BIBLE OUB GUIDE. 11 

and he congratulates himself that he has done it ; 
but it still sticks to the same story ; and a respectable 
jury — to say nothing of the judge — yet believes its 
testimony. 

A better way would be for those whom it convicts 
to step to the bar and plead guilty, and throw them- 
selves on the great mercy of the Judge. " He giveth 
grace to the humble, but beholdeth the pi'oud afar 
off." 



THE BIBLE OUR GUIDE. 

Some seem to dote much on experience^ as though 
that were the criterion to go by. Such a one has a 
deep experience. Others are old and experienced. 
Why, if you would believe them, we are in the dark 
swam2> of sin, and the only way to get out is to feel 
out by somebody's experience^ which is related for 
your benefit. " Look out for that hole which I blun- 
dered into ; bew^are of that rock which I bruised my 
shin against ; avoid that old snag which I went pros- 
trate over ; keep out of that thicket which I got en- 
tangled in ; go around that slough which I got mired 
in." Now that is just what is the matter with the 
whole method of serving God, which makes people 
go crooked ; it is in paying so much attention to this 
one and that one, and trying to feel as they felt ; and 
they boil down a thousand needlessly voluminous 
experiences, and try to live on the scanty remainder, 
which is all that is worth anything. Religion at sec- 
ond hand is bad enough, but when you have to boil 
out ninety-nine per cent of adulteration to get one 



12 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

per cent of the pure article, the process is a losing 
business. Go to the great Source, and get it clear. 
Follow up stream until you reach the eternal, bub- 
bling spring of life. Put your prayer where it be- 
longs — right up into the windows of Heaven, before 
the eye of Jehovah — " Lead me in a plain path 
because of mine enemies." 

It occurs to me that the experience of another man 
is not my guide. God does not say : " Well, you pay 
attention to that other fellow-servant, and you will 
come out all right ; see Deacon A. or Brother B. 
Keep your eye on them." Oh, nOc There was one 
person anciently whom God anointed king, who got 
to looking at the people so much that he went despe- 
rately crooked ; and it came to pass that in the course 
of events that man got straightened out and regu- 
lated, and this is the way he talked afterward : — 
" Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto 
my path. Thy word have I hid in my heart that I 
might not sin against Thee." Why, that man talks in 
every line of that long Psalm of one hundred and 
seventy- six verses just as though he was regulated in 
everything by the Word of God. How strange ! 
Why, David, just as likely as not, if you keep on in 
that way, you wont feel like other folks. " Can't 
help it." I can find out in God's Word that fire burns 
flesh, and so I can avoid it, and be enjoying myself 
and learning more while another person is making 
poultices to draw out the fire, who found out that it 
burns by painful experience. I might have an expe- 
rience to relate if I was fool enough to suppose I 
could go to the well and bring into the house a bucket 
of water in a bail basket. A person who knew the 
nature of water would take a tight pail. Oh, we need 



THE BIBLE OUR GUIDE. 13 

a baptism of common sense in divine things, and a 
disposition to study that unfailing Word, if we would 
save ourselves much trouble in this world, get to our- 
selves joy, and enter at last within the gates into the 
eternal city of refuge and rest. 



LICKING OFF THE SUGAR. 

Most everybody believes in a portion of the Bible. 
I used to believe in pills when I was a youngster, 
especially in the sugar coating on the outside, and 
unbeknown to my mother, I used to get them out of 
the closet, and lick the sugar off, and throw the bit- 
ter, medicinal part away. Yet I was no more dis- 
honest, inconsistent, or worthy of stripes than chil- 
dren of a larger growth today respecting the Word 
of God. There are lots of sentimental people who 
have a palate for certain portions of the Bible, but 
that part which contains the very medicine they 
need, and which God has ordained for their good, 
they have thrown aside, because it is bitter, it goes 
against the grain of human nature. 

A cat will lie still and purr as long as you stroke 
her the way the fur naturally lies ; but when you go 
against the nap the fire will begin to fly, and that cat 
will soon be elsewhere. I have seen people who were 
not over pious, who if in family devotion they could 
have their selection of the chapter to be read, would 
say the fourteenth chapter of John, because it begins 
this way : — " Let not your heart be troubled." Oh, 
yes, "let not your heart be troubled." There is not 
a sentence in the Bible so unobjectionable as that to 



14 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

the Devil. He would just love to poke his head into 
the ball-room when church members are dancing (it 
is most too mean a place for him to stojD long), and 
quote that sentence, and be off on more important 
business. 

To those loaded down with worldliness it comes 
like a balm. " Let not your heart be troubled." 
Skipping the important conditions, there are " man- 
sions." Oh, yes, "many mansions," room enough for 
you all. And if it were not so somebody would have 
told you. Somehow or another you will get in, so 
" let not your heart be troubled " about those ques- 
tions of religion which others are making themselves 
miserable about, and keep on in your pleasure. That 
is the way the adversary loves to quote and apply 
Scrij^tures, and he is an apt hand at it. 

"Ye believe in God, believe also in Christ" — 
" believe on Him as the Scriptures hath said " — 
those are the important conditions which Satan skips 
here with a slight touch, and bears down on the 
pretty part of it. Do you believe God ? An answer 
to that question will depend on how you view the 
Bible as a whole. " Let not your heart be troubled." 
Who was Christ talking to here? That soothing 
sentence, brother, is for the man or woman who has 
gone on the bench, and had the cancer of sin taken 
out. Unless you have been there it is knife, knife, 
or plaster, plaster. Don't cuddle down in indiffer- 
ence to that call, brother, for the dread disease is 
spreading to your vitals every day and every hour. 

Brother, God has done up his medicine for sin in 
" precious promises " ; look out how you lick off the 
promises, and throw away the medicine to " the other 
fellow." Swallow it all down together; it will do 



THE BIBLE OUR GUIDE. 15 

thee good like a medicine. " I don't understand it." 
Well, you have swallowed many a pill that you did 
not understand, — couldn't have told what it was 
made of to save you, and it did you just as much 
good as though you could. Why don't folks believe 
the Bible? Ah! there is that in it which hurts. 
Toil can pare a child's finger-nails without his squirm- 
ing, until you touch " the quick^" then see. " God 
sent His Son into the world in the likeness of sinful 
flesh, and for sin, or by a sacrifice for sin, condemned 
sin in the flesh." Rom. 8 : 3. That is what hurts. 

There is an embargo on the whole business. God 
has quarantined the world at the cross, and you can't 
pull up stream, brother, until you are disinfected and 
rid of the pest ot sin. O, lie there until you are 
clean rather than drift back into the mid-ocean of 
doubt. You won't have to stop long, " only believe," 
that is it. How robust and strong in God one feels 
when he lives "by every word which proceedeth out 
of the mouth of God." His spiritual system is toned 
up so that he is ready for work on that line. O, let 
present momentary comfort go, close your eyes to 
surrounding vanities, and take God's portion, sinner ; 
though it seems awfully bitter at first, it will be sweet 
for you by and by, while others are getting the bitter. 



16 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

« STABLISH YOUR HEARTS." 




*'And they said one to another, Did not our heart 
burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, 
and while he opened to us the Scriptures." The 
physical heart-burn is a sure sign that there is disease 
in the system, but the spiritual heart-burn is a certain 
indication of spiritual health; at least, when the 
warm glow is interest in Jesus and His salvation. 
There are hot heads enough — fanatical over theo- 
ries — but too few hot hearts — hearts all aglow with 
practical faith, hope and love. Of all times such 
hearts are especially needed in the present — the 
time when the Master said that "because iniquity 
should abound, the love of many should wax cold," 
Matt. 24: 12; and the times of the Laodicean state 
of the church, when church members in general are 
"neither cold nor hot," but "lukewarm," and only fit 
to be " spewed out of the mouth " of the Lord, Rev. 
3 : 15, 16. Christ says He " would that we were cold 
or hot." Oh, that there could be fewer accounts of 



CHRISTIAN LOVE. 17 

burning buildings in the papers and more of hearts 
on fire with the love of God and souls. When iniq- 
uity abounds the love of many waxes cold ; and it is 
just as- true the other way ; when the love of many 
waxes cold, iniquity abounds. Fire burns up corrup- 
tion. There would be less iniquity if there was more 
heart-burn. Now the proper agency to produce this 
lasting and much-desired heart-burn is the Word 
of God as applied to our hearts by the Spirit. The 
hearts of the disciples burned while Christ opened to 
them the Scriptures, and talked to them by the way. 
" Has the Bible lost its power ? " I think not. I 
think the Spirit-endued servant of Christ can open 
that Book on his way, so that even those in whose 
hearts there are but a few smouldering embers of 
faith, hope and love, shall say one to another after 
his departure, "Did not our hearts burn within 
us?" Charts and blackboards are useful in their 
places, but they are not absolutely necessary to pro- 
duce Scriptural heart-burn. Do you suppose Christ 
stopped to stretch up a chart on the fence on this 
journey to Emmaus? He "opened the Scriptures" 
with no other aid than the Spirit, which the Lord 
God anointed him with to preach the GosjdcI to the 
poor.' What an aid that is ! " Without me ye can 
do nothing." Is the Spirit's supply exhausted? 
There is head-burn enough, but where is the heart- 
burn ? Let us, with David, " muse " over this matter 
until the "fire burns," and then go and set. some one 
else on fire. 

Not upon human opinion merely; that is subject 
to great shrinkage. Not upon error, for mercy's 
sake; enough are glued there already. Then upon 



18 OKUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

what? The Word of the Lord — the Bible — noth- 
ing else. 

Among the " perilous times " of these last days — 
the shifting sands of human thought, the breakers of 
unbelief, right and left, the many false lights here 
and there, and that mirage of the Devil where every- 
thing appears the reverse of what it means — God 
keeps the old beacon light burning. My soul, what 
could we do without it ? That light you may reckon 
on with entire safety for guidance into the eternal 
port. By making observations with the Spirit's com- 
pass, which you will take good care to have on board* 
minding also that no foreign metal is contained in the 
cargo, there are no fogs in existence that you need to 
slacken your speed for, for the chart contains the 
" sure word of prophecy," giving us due warning of 
every danger on the course. Who does not want to 
" ship " under such safe and heavenly regulations ? 

Yet how hard it appears for some to make the Bi- 
ble their guide in precept and doctrine; they are 
looking in all directions for something that is more 
according to reason. Well, it is not surprising ; if a 
man has no faith, he will be likely to need something 
to stand on; but if a person is full of God-given 
faith, it makes the best foundation by far. There is 
nothing that can shake it. Forked lightnings of per- 
secution may dance with devilish glee around it ; the 
billows of affliction may submerge it and chill it with 
even a crust of ice, yet when Jehovah brushes away 
the storm, and the rays of the Everlasting Sun 
touch it, all these things melt away and reveal the 
same old " Solid Rock." 

Not so of mere human reason. Alas ! how sandy, 
but no foundation. They appear strong enough in 



THE BIBLE THE RULE OF PRACTICE. 19 

fair weather, but how great the fall when the sand 
goes out! 

Friends, do not hearken too much to fair-weather 
preachers. Never mind the Ingersolls. Steal down 
beside the dying bed of an old saintly woman. 
Bend low. Catch the whispers, and let them sink 
into your soul, and act ! Better to listen there than 
in the halls of fair-weather orators. Look not for 
better evidences of the genuineness of Christianity 
than these circumstances and the Bible afford. No 
more revelation to come until He — the Son of man 
— is revealed from heaven. Think well; act better. 



"LIFTING UP THE STANDARD." 

Preaching some sectarian tenet continually, or 
advocating some one or two Bible truths constantly, 
is said to be " lifting up the standard " ; and he who 
opj)oses this method of doing things, no matter how 
much he may think of and do to sustain divine truth 
as a whole, is said to be "lowering the standard," 
and is branded accordingly. Well, Colonel Ells- 
worth thought once upon a time that a certain stand- 
ard needed lowering, because there were not stars 
and stripes enough upon it to suit him. The fact is, 
it is often the case that the wrong standard has to 
come down before you can run the right one up. 

It has happened that the whole Word of God is 
the standard of truth, and " all Scripture given by 
inspiration of God is profitable for doctrine, for 
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteous- 
ness; that the man of God may be perfect, thor- 



20 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

oughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Tim. 3 : 

16, 17. And if the people of God are to be taught 
of God they should hear all the counsel of God, hav- 
ing nothing kept back which is profitable unto them. 
See Paul's charge to the Ephesian elders, Acts 20 : 

17, etc. If they are expected to be symmetrical in 
faith and character, then the whole truth should be 
brought to bear upon them as we have opportunity. 
If the soldiers of Christ are to continue the march 
without the camp bearing his reproach, then they 
should see the whole standard raised unmutilated in 
the house of its friends ; tattered, if at all, by the 
enemy's shot and shell. The man who undertakes to 
put up the ensign of the United States on a public 
building " union-down," or with less stars or stripes 
upon it than the regulation pattern, would be lucky 
to escape without being shot on the spot. 

God has appointed one Leader and Commander to 
the people — Jesus Christ, and has one standard for 
the people, one ensign, the Word of God. And it 
is woe to him who adds to it or takes from it. " To 
the law and to the testimony ; if they speak not ac- 
cording to this word it is because there is no light in 
them." Isa. 8 : 20. 

God has seen fit to put the Bible together as it is — 
in the right shape chronologically and practically to 
bring out the right kind of a character ; and though 
of course it is not expected that it is to be preached 
as a whole all at once^ let us see to it that we have it 
in proper proportion to sustain our true relation to 
God, especially the New Testament. 



THE BIBLE THE RULE OF PRACTICE. 21 

HARMONY m BIBLE DOCTRINES. 

Dayid would have us praise God upon an instra- 
ment of ten strings, at least. More, if you can han- 
dle them. To do this you will have to give them all 
an occasional touch, dwelling most, of course, on the 
chords that form the tune. But there are some men 
who are such confirmed hobbyists that they never 
know how to say Amen until you get to scraping on 
their one-stringed fiddle. They are as wide awake 
then as the miser into whose chamber you have crept 
at dead of night, and shouted. Money ! Money ! Dol- 
lars ! Dollars I Jlis hobby ! 

Like a locomotive with one side disconnected these 
one-sided men go along on God's highway at a jerk- 
ing rate with lessened power for good. They think 
that they have got more power, but their mistake lies 
in the fact that one petty cylinder has got to make 
all the application of it, and is just about bursting 
under the pressure. 

The remedy for such a state of things as this is not 
more zeal, but more knowledge ; open the valve and 
let the steam into another chest of truth, brother, 
and you will not be so much worried why another 
man's experience is not just like yours. Your use- 
fulness will be increased instead of being, as you 
fear, diminished. Study, study^ " Study to show 
thyself approved unto God [not of sectarian hobby- 
ists], a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, 
rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Tim. 2 : 15. 
Some are never ashamed, though they need to be, of 
their ignorance of the various truths of God's Word, 
their proper proportion and significance. Meditate, 
meditate^ " meditate upon these things ; give thyself 



22 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

wholly to them, that thy profiting may may appear to 
all." 1 Tim. 4: 15. If some people would meditate 
more and shout less no doubt their profiting would 
appear more extensively. Put another weight on 
that blow-off valve, brother, and give the Holy Spirit 
a chance to stir up and increase the activity of those 
dormant brains in searching for the deep things of 
God. You haven't touched bottom yet, nor reached 
the extreme heights. As Daniel Webster told the 
young law student who inquired if the profession 
was crowded, " There is plenty of room at the top." 
If you have got an " extreme unction " there proba- 
bly is some left yet more extreme than which you 
have got. " Press for the mark." " Take heed unto 
thyself and unto the doctrine ; continue in them ; for 
m doing this thou shalt save thyself and them that 
hear thee." 1 Tim. 4: 16. 

''All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and 
is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction 
for instruction in righteousness ; that the man of God 
shall be perfect, thorouiijhly furnished unto all good 
works." 2 Tim. 3: 16, 17. 

This is the kind of perfection that you want, 
brother, that which bears all round on God's Word. 
If I had employed a man to put in the foundation to 
a house, and he should come for his j^ay, saying that 
it was perfectly done, I should first go and put on the 
old plumb and level, and see if there was a prospect 
of its touching the sills all round. God has set up 
the stakes and laid the lines for a perfect character in 
His Word ; see that you build to it. Put on the 
Spirit level now and then to be sure that no rogue 
has " settled " a stake. Profit by " the whole counsel 
of God," and shun not to declare it to others. There 



THE BIBLE THE RULE OF PRACTICE. 23 

is wonderful unity and harmony in God's Word. 
Take detached portions here and there, and you pro- 
duce jargon; put it together, explaining Scripture 
with Scripture, and you shout as the cap-stone goes 
on, '* Grace unto it." 



PRACTICAL AND DOCTRINAL. 

Descriptive of Bible truths, these terms do not 
occur in that book. They are the coinage of men 
of modern times. Behold how flippantly they are 
handled nowadays, which gives the impression that 
there is a lot of useless Bible truth lying about that 
book, like the accumulated junk about a workshop. 
This is labeled doctrinal^ and to be laid on the shelf 
in the Scriptural museum, and that practical to be 
passed around. Some are so scared of doctrine 
that they would fain mark it '-'-dynamite^'^ or some 
other fearful name, to keep God's searching children 
away from it. 

That there is a lot of needless doctrines about us, 
and not lying idle either, is true, but they are not the 
pure mother tincture of Holy Writ. They are the 
weak attenuations and adulterations of speculators 
and novelty constructors. If the children of God 
are to wander far from what is " written in * the 
Book ' " into the laboratories of experimentors, then 
I am in favor of plainly labeling some things " nitro- 
glycerine — handle with care." But we are speaking 
of plain Bible truth — of first principles. Is the 
Bible encumbered with needless doctrines which are 
to be studied and believed, or not, as you like — 



24 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

"better not to be believed," as I once heard a popu- 
lar preacher say ? If so, then I lay a solemn charge 
against the Spirit of God for putting them in, and 
leaving out so many " practical " things which I, with 
many others, desired to know. "And there are also 
many other things which Jesus did, the which if they 
should be written every one, I suj^pose that even the 
world itself would not contain the books that should 
be written." (John 21 : 25.) Is the Bible weighted 
with useless doctrine to leave out one thing that my 
blessed Lord did or said ? I solemnly protest against 
it, if sq. I should like to know, among all these 
things, what Jesus wrote on the ground when the 
woman taken in adultery was brought to him. The 
words and music of that doubtless spiritual and melo- 
dious "hymn" which they "sung and went out" 
from the first Lord's Supper would be very desirable 
now on these memorable occasions. "And many 
other things " as John says. 

But the Bible is all right. There is nothing unim- 
portant to the church in it. We can afford to wait 
until we see John in the kingdom of God, when he 
will have time enough to tell us all about those 
" many other things " ; for his memory will be won- 
derfully sharpened in that body "like Him" — Jesus; 
but I fear we shall never get there at all if we now 
despise or lightly esteem anything in God's Word 
which was " written aforetime for our learning, that 
we might with patience and comfort of the Scrip- 
tures have hope." No, we should take heed to it as 
a lamp that shineth in a dark place. " We ought 
to give the more earnest heed to the things that 
were heard, lest haply we drift away from them." 
" Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the 
words of the prophecy, and keep the things which 



THE BIBLE THE RULE OF PRACTICE. 25 

are written therein ; for the time is at hand," saith 
the Word at the commencement of the most useless 
book, according to modern thought, — the Revela- 
tion of Jesus Christ to St. John. 

That there is doctrine and practice is true. We go 
to the Bible for doctrine, and then we go on our 
knees and out into the community to practice it. 
This is the practical part, which is best preached in- 
dividually, actively, objectively. Our "Household 
Physician " — a useful book we have in our house — 
is, first, all doctrinal, and second, all practical when 
we put it into use. There is nothing unessential to 
salvation in it when considered in the light of all the 
diseases for which it prescribes. It does not say that 
A, who has the typhoid fever, must take the same 
medicine that B does, who has the gout. It is much 
the same way with God's Bible — the household phy- 
sician for all sinful ills and growths in grace. It does 
not say that a man who has stolen a sheep can be 
cured by believing in the doctrine of " the sleep of 
the dead." Nor does it say that a man can always 
find consolation in simple conversion joy. Likely 
enough when he gets into the same condition with 
afflicted Job he will want to know something about 
where he is going to land. 

The Bible is a book of doctrine ; our lives should 
be a book of the practice of that doctrine. Doctrine 
simply means teaching. Christ ever taught " openly 
in their synagogues." He j)reached doctrine, " sound 
doctrine." He taught His disciples to pray ; that is 
doctrine, and pretty hard to practice too, sometimes. 
If people are afraid of doctrine — Christ's doctrine, 
which He said a man should know if he would do His 
will — then they had better avoid the Bible. 



26 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

A HIDDEN GOSPEL. 

There is quite an extensive class of people around 
us who practically regard the truth of the Bible 
something like an onion ; that the gross outside peel 
and many consecutive peelings have to be removed 
to get at the core, at the truth, at the thing meant, 
and that only by priestly fingers ; like a shag-bark 
walnut that has got to be subjected to theological 
nut-crackers to get at the meat. Well, this system 
may do for some who are not over anxious for the 
bread of life, but starving souls^ by God's help, have 
foimd out a more excellent way. " Blessed are they 
who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they 
shall be filled." 

These people seem to regard the Bible in the light 
of one of their practical jokes, when they speak the 
opposite of what they mean, when a sober second 
thought may reveal the true meaning. The truth of 
Jesus is not an absurd fable from which we may ex- 
tract a useful lesson. God has not been in the habit 
of transacting eternal business on any such basis. 

They say there is a hidden meaning to the Scrip- 
tures. What is Paul's testimony? "But having 
renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walk- 
ing in craftiness, nor handling the Word of God' 
deceitfully, but by manifestation of truth, commend- 
ing ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight 
of God. But if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them 
that are lost. In whom the god of this world hath 
blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the 
light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the 
image of God, should shine into them." 2 Cor. 4 : 4. 

Jesus thanked His Father that these things had 



THE BIBLE, 27 

been " hid from the wise and prudent and revealed 
unto babes." That it is hid from those who know 
nothing of the illuminating effects of the Holy Spirit, 
we admit ; but it is a revealed book to every child of 
God's adoption by grace. God has got Marys and 
Marthas enough that He is not afraid to disclose 
these " hidden " things to ; the power of His resur- 
rection, the inside working of His mission. "He 
re^ealeth His secrets to His servants, the prophets;" 
and in every age chosen vessels have borne His mes- 
sage. Some have demurred and others have been 
raised up. He warned the proud and self-confident 
Jews of His ability " to raise up of these stones chil- 
dren unto Abraham." 

Be careful of your responsibility to the Divine 
arrangement. Do not imagine that you can stop 
God's light by hiding His truth under a bushel, by 
screening it from the public gaze, by mystifying it 
and bewildering people, or holding it in check even 
until they clamor for it ; but we must deal it out as 
God's only medicine to a sick race, Jonah-like, Jere- 
miah-like. This admonition is not particularly to 
preachers, but to the whole flock. We must all 
" preach the Word " as much as is possible. Let the 
light shine, that the people may behold it ; then if 
they choose darkness instead of light, it is because 
their deeds are evil. 



THE CHANNEL OF DIVrNHE POWER. 

The public manifestation of the Divine power, or 
Holy Spirit, is always much desired by all true Chris- 
tians, and its private presence with the individual is 



28 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

none the less coveted. People are apt to go where 
the services are characterized as deeply spiritual. 
This leads us naturally to inquire, What is the true 
channel of God's power ? That its manifestation is 
conditional all must admit. We reply that the only 
true channel of the Holy Spirit is God's Word. 
^'Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is 
truth." " Now ye are clean through the word which 
I have spoken unto you." The Word of God is the 
cleansing, sanctifying power now, because the crea- 
tive power at the beginning. The Word is not the 
Spirit, nor the Spirit the Word. The Word is sim- 
ply the result of the Spirit's action. When spoken 
by Him who is the life, " they are spirit and life," 
because the Spirit and Word accompanying each 
other are manifested at the same time. There is no 
life in the mere recorded Word in the Bible without 
the agency of the Spirit with it. It is simply a rec- 
ord of what the Spirit once did, and, to be effective, 
must be repeated by that same power to the hearts 
of men. 

The recorded Word being the channel of the Spir- 
it's power, any additions to, or innovations upon that, 
are not wanted ; no more revelations are to be coun- 
tenanced. The medium of the right Spirit is not 
the Fox sisters, but the Word of God. It is not an 
unusual thing to see men who are very anxious to 
have the "demonstration of the Spirit," but there 
are Bible doctrines which they do not indorse. Such 
will never realize their desires. 

We do not mean by this that there is any particu- 
lar doctrine which is the vehicle of power ; it is the 
whole Word of God. When a people proclaim a part 
of it, and suppress an equally imiDortant part, they 



THE BIBLE. 29 

1 

will not have the Spirit's power a great while. The 
'whole Word of God must have " free course and be 
glorified"; the doctrinal and the practical. Those 
who regard the one to the disfavor of the other, are 
checking its free course. God picks out and sends 
His own Word to people; blessed are they who bear 
it, but woe unto them who withhold it. 

The reason of Paul's mighty ministry lay in the 
fact of his declaring "the whole counsel of God." 
Job could be patient because he " had not concealed 
the words of the Holy One." Then if individuals 
want the Spirit of God with them, let them not de- 
spise any part of the Book of God. It is not mani- 
fested in the practical department when those indi- 
viduals need the doctrinal, and vice versa. If a 
church wants power, let them pay their respects to 
all the Word of God. The prolific cause of a lack 
of power among the churches is not because sinners 
are infidelic, but because the church members them- 
selves are. Sinners will tremble because of the 
Word when it is believed, preached and acted out by 
the saints. When the practical aspects of the Word 
are acted out by the saints, in a godly life, they are 
channels for the power of God, and in no other way. 
If churches and individuals will only let the Word 
of God, as set home by the Spirit, have its own way 
in every sense, we will venture to say there will 
be power enough manifested, and sinners will be 
converted. 



30 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

KNOW THE POWER. 

The knowledge of the true source and amount of 
one's physical strength contributes largely to its 
power in exercise. Who could control the beasts if 
they knew their power ? We find a correspondence 
here in spiritual matters. " Knowledge is power," 
says an old truism ; and so it is. Good knowledge is 
a power for good ; evil for evil. 

The Apostle thirsted for knowledge. What kind? 
Knowledge of geological strata? Nothing is said 
about it. What then? Knowledge of Christ and 
His power. Hear Paul in Phil. 3 : 8-10 : — "I count 
all things but loss for the excellency of the knowl- 
edge of Christ Jesus my Lord; . . . that I may know 
Him and the power of His resurrection." Then it 
would seem that the chief equipment for a soldier of 
the Lord is a knowledge of Him — their Leader — 
and His Almighty power. Jesus said to the Phari- 
sees (Matt. 22: 29), "Ye do err, not knowing the 
Scriptures, nor the power of God." 

Soldiers of our earthly governments are strong 
only in the knowledge of the power of the govern- 
mental arm ; that ins^Dires them on the tedious march, 
and lends a wonderful power and skill in wielding 
the bloody steel. Let a knowledge of the weakness 
or insecurity of the existence of the government, 
under which they are fighting, become widespread 
among the ranks, and inefficiency and disorder will 
ensue. None the less true is it of the army of the 
Lord. There is nothing that will brighten the eye 
and quicken the step of the weary, worn soldier in 
the march against sin and Satan, as the inspiring 
thought of the Almighty power of his divine Leader^ 



THE BIBLE. 31 

and the absolute certainty of his final triumph, to- 
gether with the evidences of its speedy approach, the 
general cessation of hostilities, a vanquished foe, and 
the grand coronation of Christ Jesus, Lord of all. 

You are on the highway of error in "not knowing 
the Scriptures." Why ? Because there only you 
learn that necessary element of success — " the 
power of God." That is the fundamental principle 
which underlies every branch of the Christian doc- 
trine. No wonder much error exists in the church at 
large as to the doctrines of Christ. The same only 
can be said of them as Jesus said to the Pharisees : — 
"Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the 
power of God." Nature reveals the natural power 
of God, which is seldom disputed ; the Bible alone 
reveals the disputed point of His supernatural power. 
Faith is strengthened by great knowledge and famil- 
iarity with its pages. People will- walk the nearest 
to God who study their Bibles the most ; as the man 
is the most accurate accountant who is the most fa- 
miliar with figures. 

Then, like Apollos, be "mighty in the Scriptures." 
" Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all 
wisdom," and you will know of His power, which 
will beget the same in your weak, earthen vessel. 
Then your labor will not be in vain in the Lord. 



32 CRUMBS OF THE BREAJD OF LIFE. 

CHAPTER II. 



THE ORIGIN OF SIN. . 

Is God responsible for sin ? Some say He is, as 
terrible as the assertion appears to others. But if 
He is responsible for one sin, or its origin, then He is 
for the whole catalogue. We believe He disclaims 
the accusation. His Son said the Devil was " a liar, 
and the father of it." John 8 : 44. If God is re- 
sponsible for the art of lying, then here is misplaced 
credit, or accusation. 

Evil antedates the creation of this world, and 
therefore all revelation concerning it. Our responsi- 
bility is not based jipon our knowledge of the origin 
of sin, but upon our contact with it. Why should 
we be concerned about it, then ? This article does 
not so concern itself; it only essays to clear the 
character of God of the responsibility of sin in the 
minds of the thoughtful. Let none imagine that 
they can see beyond revelation, and that starts with 
a ripe devil. Nowhere in revelation does the line 
of evil come in contact with that of good. They are 
much more distinct in the Word of God than in 
practical life nowadays. The abhorrenpe was also 
much greater. Let us " shun every appearance of 
evil." God is perfectly acquainted with its origin, 
and what is better, with its future termination. 

Collusion with the prince of devils was charged 
upon Jesus by the Pharisees, concerning His miracu- 
lous casting out of them. Matt. 12 : 22-37. Saith 



THE ORIGIK OF SIK 33- 

Jesus in answer : — " Every kingdom divided against 
itself is brought to desolation ; and every city or 
house divided against itself shall not stand. And if 
Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; 
how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by 
Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children 
cast them out ? therefore they shall be your judges. 
But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then 
the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how 
can one ent^r into a strong man's house, and spoil 
his goods, except he first bind the strong man, and 
then will he spoil his house. He that is not with me 
is against me ; and he that gathereth not with me 
scattereth abroad." Again, He says elsewhere : — 
"How can two walk together except they be agreed?" 
" Can a fountain send forth both sweet water and 
bitter?" "Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs 
of thistles?" 

If sin and righteousness, justice and injustice, Sa- 
tan and Jesus, have the same origin, whence then is 
the antagonism? Shall not children of the same 
Creator, and brethren, "dwell together in unity"? 
Is there not a " unity of the Spirit in the bond of 
peace" among all who are gathered to "the one . 
body " — Christ in God ? We read that " Christ was 
manifested that He might destroy the works of the 
devil." What for, if God made Him ? Was not the 
creation of God " very good " ? Is it God's order to 
let one servant build and another tear down and de- 
stroy ? O, but they say that sin was brought in to 
develop us. But the apostles are ever saying that 
Adam and Eve fell in consequence of sin. That is a 
good deal like arguing that a " grub worm " at the 

roots of growing corn is the development — the bet- 
2* 



34 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

terment of the corn. The fact is, the grub gets well 
developed, and the corn destroyed. It is like the 
negro's reasoning when asked why he bruised his 
shin — " 'cause it feels so much better when its get- 
ting well." 

That God will eventually turn the fall of man to 
His own glory does not prove to our mind that man 
is any better for falling. If he is glorious by redemp- 
tion, what might he not have been had he proved 
loyal? We think that man's way to immortality 
through redemption is a much more abasing and tedi- 
ous route than if he had continued loyal to God 
from . the beginning. But, having been morally re- 
stored by penitence and confession, he is to start for 
immortality in about the same tracks as Adam did — 
" By patient continuance in well doing." Being in a 
weakened condition by the fall, physically, God's love 
is manifest in sending His own Son in the flesh to 
sympathize with and help us. (By the way, how can 
the love and grace of God, as shown us in the re- 
demptive plan in the gift of Jesus Christ, be recon- 
ciled with God's responsibily, in any way, for man's 
fall? " By grace are ye saved." Grace is unmerited 
favor. If man's exercise of free-will was overriden 
by the foreordination of God, and man placed in sin 
in the least degree for any purpose whatever, by 
Jehovah, then it is His duty to provide redemption 
without man's co-operation. Let grace have its 
sway.) 

But, as we have said before, this does not prove an 
improvement on the original condition of men. Men 
are apt to be so enraptured in praise to God for 
man's redemption (which He deserves) that they are 
glad he fell. That would naturally lead to the praise 



Sli^ AND ITS AUTHOR. 35 

of man for his falling steps. We in no wise detract 
from the glory of God to deplore the fall ; we en- 
hance it. One thing is certain, with proper faith in 
Christ as our Helper, we are on surer footing than 
was Adam, for the reason that ^' the first man Adam 
was of the earth, earthy; but the second Adam is the 
Lord from heaven." But our sureness is beset with 
that awful inheritance of the fall — unbelief, so that 
the chances of triumph through belief in Christ are 
not greater than through belief in God at the first. 
To believe God is the stepping-stone to eternal life 
now as then. God be praised and man deplored. 



SIN NECESSARY. 

Some think that they see a necessity for sin from 
such a passage as this (Rom. 6: 17), '^ But God be 
thanked, that ye were the servants of sin," etc. Now 
no such conclusion should be reached from this. He 
says (verse 19), "I speak after the manner of men 
because of the infirmity of your flesh : for as ye have 
yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to 
iniquity unto iniquity, even so now yield your mem- 
bers servants to righteousness unto holiness." He 
philosophizes after the manner of men, that they 
may more readily grasp the way of redemption. He 
does not reason from God's standpoint, but that of 
men. He does not argue that they are better off for 
sin than if they had never partaken of the fall, but 
as they ha^^e fallen in nature, he is thankful they 
have tasted fully of the bitter cup for themselves, 
that they may relish the sweetness of redemption. 



36 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

There is no greater hindrance to the progress of 
regeneration than such moralists as those who will 
not realize their need of redemption. " If we say- 
that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the 
truth is not in us." The main force of the Gospel is 
spent today to make men realize that they are sin- 
ners, and their need of Christ, so dull have their 
senses to sin become, and their claims to natural 
goodness so increased. 

We see, then, from a human standpoint, that deep 
experience in sin, when, after being awakened by the 
Gospel, produces the most lasting conviction and 
loyal service. 

It is a well-known fact that the greatest sinners, 
when reclaimed, make the most burning advocates of 
the love and forgiveness of Christ. Jesus sustained 
this : — " They that are forgiven much, love much " ; 
and love is the momentum of the Christian. Paul 
echoes the same principle in the preceding chapter 
(Rom. 5; 20), "But where sin abounded, grace did 
much more abound." Yet his argument is not that a 
great sinner, who has received much grace, is better 
than one better balanced by nature, and more favored 
by circumstances, who has received, and needs, less 
grace. That would be paying a premium on sin. If 
a man realizes his need of saving grace without dip- 
ping so deeply into sin, so much the better for him. 
The whole tenor of Paul's reasoning is for us to real- 
ize our situatio7i. Doubtless the Romans could not 
have learned the lesson so well theoretically as by 
physical suffering ; and there are similar cases today. 
But he puts an everlasting discount on the value or 
necessity of sin in the opening verses of the sixth 
chapter : — " What shall we say then ? shall we con- 



SIN AND ITS AUTHOR. 37 

tinue in sin that grace may abound ? God forbid ! '' 
Then the primary necessity for the introduction of 
sin into the world is disproved. 

It can be farther illustrated by supposing that the 
love between a man and his wife is better for an 
occasional falling out than if it had run on an even, 
sweet, unbroken and swelling current. True, the lat- 
ter would not know the sweetness of "making up"; 
but why should they want to know it if they had 
never fallen out ? But, having fallen out through a 
betrayal, the best thing is to realize the extent of the 
injury, and thus, with penitence, make amends. And 
where forgiveness is abundant, how sweet the heal- 
ing ! So of the plan of redemption in Christ Jesus. 



THE AUTHOR OF SIIST A PERSON. 

Evil, they say, is a principle among us. True; 
but more elsewhere. Sunlight and warmth are prin- 
ciples among us. Whence do they come? Have 
they not their origin centralized in the sun ? Can 
there be manifest power except from a central 
source ? Whence that source, then, of evil ? Not of 
God. If in Jesus " dwelt all the fullness of the God- 
head bodily," then why was not evil manifest in 
Him ? " He knew no sin, neither was guile found in 
His mouth." If good is the offspring of a personal 
God, then why is not evil by the same rule the fruit 
of the personal Devil ? Jesus says, " I beheld Satan 
as lightning fall from heaven." Did He behold a 
principle or a personality? Let us have connected 
logic. The tenor of the Scriptures, if a literal inter- 



38 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

pretation is adhered to — and if spiritualized, where 
are we? — carries to our minds a personal Devil back 
of all evil, though out of our sight. And the same 
with good and a personal God. We do not attempt 
to define the formation of either; we have never 
seen either. But thanks be to God, sin and Satan are 
near their speedy extinction, when the glory of God 
will fill the earth from shore to shore. Until then, 
" let us resist the Devil, and he will flee from us " ; 
and " draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to 
us." James 4 : 7, 8. 



THE PURPOSE OF EVIL. 

We recently received a leaflet on the above sub- 
ject which the author makes as clear as mud. It is 
only another attempt to fathom the unfathomable. 
Some may drop the lead a little deeper than others, 
but they do not any of them touch bottom. While 
the acquisition of all divine knowledge by searching 
the Scriptures is commendable, there are some things 
which will never be fully known till " the mists have 
cleared away." " For we know in part and we proph- 
esy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, 
then that which is in part shall be done away. . . . 
For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face 
to face : now I know in part ; but then shall I know 
even as also I am known." Grace will be brought 
unto us at the revelation of Jesus Christ. '' The 
mystery of God shall be finished " when the seventh 
and last angel sounds his trumpet. TiM then we live 
by faith and trust ; and sometimes, were it not for 



SIN AND ITS AUTHOR. 39 

these traits in full strength we should be over- 
whelmed with doubts, and perplexed at what appears 
to be inscrutable. He who has got these things all 
figured down fine and clear as noonday to himself^ 
exhibits the danojer of a little knowledore. That dis- 
ciple who leaned on Jesus' breast never got the mys- 
tery of God all cleared up, but points us to a time in 
the future when " it will be finished, as He hath de- 
clared to His servants the prophets." Paul saw 
through a glass darkly, though he had the Spirit to 
such a degree as to perform wondrous miracles. 
Others declared that His ways were past finding out. 

This writer to whom we refer, says : — " All is 
plain when we see the truth that I have tried to set 
forth in this article. Satan is God's servant to carry 
out His plans ; he is just as much under God's con- 
trol, and works just as truly under His direction as 
does the angel Gabriel. God now leaves him free to 
work out his mischievous will among the children of 
men ; he is ' the prince of this world,' the ' spirit that 
worketh in the children of disobedience.' The time 
will come when he will be bound and put under total 
restraint, and so remain through the millennium; 
then he will be loosed because God has something for 
him to do, and he will be finally disposed of at the 
time and in the manner that God pleases." 

Further on this writer bursts out into an animated 
strain, and rings the jubilee to the effect that all will 
finally praise God and be saved, and tips off with the 
stanza — 

" I cannot doubt that good shall fall, 
At last, far off — at last, to all. 

But Satan, who has been God's faithful servant all 



40 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

the while in attending to the salvation o f everybody 
else, is " finally to be disposed of" ! 

That is not fair play. He should sit down with 
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of God, 
to go no more out forever, and enjoy the good rest 
which his tired frame — tired out in saving sinners — 
so much needs, and receive the ascriptions of praise 
of the four and twenty aiders, and the great multi- 
tude which no man could number — which he has 
been instrumental in getting there — forever! He 
should be a — if not the — lion of the hour, and the 
host at the feast. 

We do not remember of ever reading where Christ 
and Satan pulled together in the grand work. We 
do remember that Christ was forever routing him 
wherever he went, and the Devil entered the plea 
that Christ was tormenting him before the time. 
We shall be apt to shine in the kingdom of God more 
if we have made haste here to pull sinners as brands 
from the burning, instead of wasting time, energy, 
printer's ink and souls in speculating about who set 
the fire^ etc., about questions to no profit. Let us 
put our efforts together toward the publication of 
that saying which is worthy of all acceptation, that 
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and 
not to debate and discuss to show how deep we can 
dive into the hidden mysteries of God, which He will 
clear up in due time. It is as probable that the Devil 
made himself a devil, as that a man made himself a 
thief. 



WORDS TO SINNERS. 41 

RESPONSIBILITY FOR SIN. 

Ma:n^ are the ingenious arguments devised by man 
to show that God is the author or originator of sin ; 
that He is responsible for it ; that it is by His will 
that sin came into the world, that He intended it 
for a good purpose. Now the reason for this whole 
effort to lay the existence of sin to the charge of 
God seems to be, that the authorship of sin is not 
very creditable, but rather so uncreditable that man 
would rather not own it as his work, but relieve him- 
self by laying it to the Almighty. 

Well, this is like human nature everywhere and in 
all ages. Adam did not do anything wrong, O no ; it 
was Eve. Eve did not do anything out of the way ; 
it was the serpent. Who wants to own up to being 
the cause of a calamity or accident if he can help it ? 
You will find men in all the walks of life trying to 
shun the imputation of the authorship of things 
which are to their discredit. Men are ever craving 
authority, place and power ; but if there is any mis- 
chief done — O! it was some subordinate that must 
be looked after ; it wasn't me. 

Turn over the leaf. Why do not these men work 
as hard and argue as earnestly to prove that God is 
the author and producer of every good thing that 
they ever do or say in their lives ? The fact is, man 
has a weakness for praise and honor. He would just 
as soon bear the reputation of doing something good 
and smart as not. Go back to the garden again. 
Suppose Adam had wrought some great improve- 
ment in the garden (and, you know, man is ever 
thinking that he can improve on God's plans), and 
God had come along in the garden " in the cool of 



42 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

the clay," and asked, "Adam, who did that?" do you 
suppose Adam would have said, " My wife did that?" 
I am thinking Adam would have straightened up to 
the importance of the personal pronoun Z about then. 
Or he might have had quite a meek way of taking 
the glory to himself, which many have now ; it makes 
little difference, glory kept to yourself is robbing God 
of it, whether it be meekly or proudly done. Then 
if God had accosted Eve as to the origin of some like 
good thing done, in all probability she would not 
have said " the serpent beguiled me." O no ; the 
women like to be thought well of as well as the men. 

Ever since man lost the first dominion he has been 
very anxious to gain the good opinion of folks. God 
made him to have the dominion — to be Lord of the 
creation — to be looked up to on the right and on the 
left ; and this is perfectly natural, and all well and 
good if righteously exercised ; but man's hunger for 
glory exceeds his appetite for justice, mercy and 
truth. He is ever, in his own natural opinion, work- 
ing up like the coarser grains in a well-shaken peck 
measure. He is ever and adroitly managing the 
debt and credit pages of his accountability to the 
Almighty. If he preaches a fine sermon, makes an 
eloquent prayer, or succeeds well in the world in a 
business way, why you won't insult him any if you 
don't go back of him to the All- wise with the credit 
for all this smartness. He would now as soon believe 
in free agency — in human effort, as not. Foreordi- 
nation is apt to be perverted to the use of man as a 
sinking fund for liquidating the debt of his weak- 
nesses, sins and blunders. 

Why not take up the refrain of Holy Writ : — "All 
we like sheep have gone astray," acknowledge our 



WOBDS TO SINNERS. 



43 



responsibility to God for our sins, exercise proper hu- 
mility, and seek His pardoning grace ? " Blessed is 
the man whose sin is covered, whose iniquities are 
forgiven." 



WHAT IS SIN? 



FAITH SWORKSr:::^' 



BEL. 



LAMB\ 



RmHTEOUS. 



CAiN'S ^, 



VNRIGHTTam^ 



Abel's faith and works, as illustrated in his sacrilSce 
of a lamb, pointed forward to the Lamb of God — 
Jesus — who should be slain for the remission of sins. 
The lamb's blood did not wash away his sins, but his 
faith in Jesus, thus shown, did. 

Cain's sacrifice, though perhaps worth more in 
money than Abel's, pointed forth to nothing. Right- 
eousness is of faith shown in proper works. 

The best works are those which illustrate our faith. 
A work which does not properly show forth the true 
inward faith is worthless in God's reckoning as to its 
entitling one to salvation, no matter how sanctimoni- 



44 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

ously rendered. God wants us to believe Him, and 
show it to the world. 

The Pharisee who stood up in the temple to pray 
was an analyzer of sin. He graded it off, taking 
good care to place himself in the first grade. He 
was not as bad as other folks. He was no extor- 
tioner, no adulterer, not unjust, nor like the poor 
publican. On the other hand, he was doing, as he 
thought, enough to merit considerable divine atten- 
tion. He fasted twice every week, and when ten 
dollars of income was realized, one went toward the 
temple worship. But we learn that there is One 
elsewhere who also knows how to analyze and grade 
off sin and sinners. He says His thoughts are not 
our thoughts, neither are our ways His ways. We 
learn that this publican, who, according to the Phari- 
see's reckoning in the temple stood in the meanest 
grade, went down to his house justified rather than 
he himself, after all of his good opinions of his 
worth. This was quite an overturn in matters. 
What facts lay at the base of this affair? Why, the 
publican knew something that the Pharisee did not — 
that he was a sinner. And he was humble enough to 
own it and confess it, and had faith enough in the 
mercy of God to ask for it. This is the way to ap- 
pear at the throne ; but you must be in real earnest. 
Not a speck of these elements was in the Pharisee's 
statement. It was all self- complimentary. 

This Pharisee was a sample of an extensive list of 
persons. We see them around us now. They may 
be professors or non-professors, church-goers or non- 
church-goers. They can analyze sin with as much 
precision as a chemist does j^oison, in their way. 
They grade it off as a wool-eorter does wool, from 



.'J 



WORDS TO SINNEES. 46 

positively bad, all the way up to that which may be 
allowed. And they think that they will retain this 
grading in the world to come, and be i^unished or 
rewarded accordingly, citing certain passages of 
Scripture to sustain them. How their feelings will 
be shocked at something that happens under their 
eye, forgetful of the fact that their attitude toward 
God's judgment, mercy and faith as offered to them 
in His Son is ten times as flagrant ! These are they 
who strain at gnats and swallow camels. How they 
will strain over drunkenness and many vulgar things, 
and things less vulgar, which perhaps some folks do 
who have been born and reared in ignorance, of 
whom you can hardly expect better things. And 
they will overlook dainty deviltry among themselves 
which is shocking to the angels. 

What is sin ? Let God analyze it. It is lack of 
confidence in God's Word which underlies practical 
disobedince. And that lack of confidence in God's 
Word is sin already germinated. It only wants fa- 
vorable circumstances to manifest its life. This is 
the account of the fall of Adam and Eve. Unbelief 
is the first sin and father of the whole family. God 
classes all sin under only one head, respecting saving 
justification, and that is unbelief. He had this truth 
declared plainly by the Apostle when he said, 
"Whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Rom. 14: 23), 
and inferentially all through the Bible is the great 
fact that " by faith we are justified and have peace 
with God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 

Whoever rejects God's proffered mercy in Jesus 
Christ is a sinner, no matter how moral and upright 
he may have been, and must share the same doom as 
he who has wallowed in the mire of sin. " The 



46 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

deeds done in the body," which some love to quote 
so well, which we are to be rewarded for, are deeds 
of faith or deeds of unbelief — only two kinds of 
deeds. Who will stand acquitted then ? What an 
army of sinners, when imputed righteousness by faith 
in God's provision is so ready to be offered ! " By 
grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not_*of 
yourselves, it is the gift of God." 



CHAPTER III. 



THAT WORTHY NAME. 

PassijStg along the main street the other day, I saw 
on the bill-boards, in the center of a large field of 
white, only a name^ in large type, in fac-simile of the 
person's handwriting. It was enough. A noted 
actress was coming to town, and her admirers needed 
no further information or display. They knew her. 

There is another name, a w^orthy name — the wor- 
thy name, which to the eye or ear of those acquainted 
with Him is the synonym of all that is holy, just, 
good and saving — JESUS. Press that home to a 
believer's heart, and it is the same as pressing an elec- 
tric button which lights a manufactory, and ]3uts the 
wheels in motion. 

Oh, what a sting runs through the Christian's soul 
when that name is desecrated in an oath, or spoken, 
or used irreverently ! But pronounced with the lips 
of faith and devotion it is a sermon in itself ; you 
touch the keys of a thousand batteries ; you stir the 
melodies of all believing hearts who hear it. 



CHRIST — WHO? WHAT? 47 

That sick saint on that bed of langjuishing: will for- 
get everything on earth before that name is forgot- 
ten. No resix)nse may come at the pronouncing of 
the names of her own dear offspring, in her partial 
lethargy and delirium ; maybe she cannot speak, but 
pronounce that name^ and see the smile play over the 
face — the smile of faith and love. If no visible re- 
sponse to that name comes, call a doctor, offer the 
prayer of faith, or get a shroud, for death is at hand. 

That name ! " There is none other name under 
heaven given among men whereby we must be 
saved." "To Him give all the prophets witness, that 
through His name whosoever belie veth in Him shall 
receive remission of sins." If it were physically pos- 
sible, you might run through Heaven shouting that 
name, and you would see no frowns on the faces of 
angels, but it would be the signal to strike the harps 
louder. Shout it on earth, and you will see who 
loves Him. 

Sing out anything else under heaven in the Devil's 
hearing, beside that, and he feels comfortable. Ah ! 
how it stirs his ire and makes him frown. Sure 
enough ; because it calls to mind the defeats he has 
met in Jesus' past conquests, and the shortness of 
time before he will have to surrender this citadel to 
the Son of God, who then will have " on His vesture, 
and on His thigh a name written, KING of kings 
and LORD of lords." It will be no wonder that 
this was printed in capitals in the book of Rev- 
elation, for it will have an emphasis then that many 
have never " dreamed of in their philosophy." For 
it means a clear universe. 

Jesus — when I hear that name I am not confined 
to blessed history, but I leap into glorious prophecy. 



48 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

Now do not get restive at that word, and imagine 
figures, beasts, heads and horns are coming. There 
are all kinds of prophecy in the grand Book, the 
New Testament inchided ; and if prophecy from an 
angel will do, here it is : — '' Ye men of Galilee, why 
stand ye gazing up into Heaven ? This same Jesus 
which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so 
come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into 
Heaven." Acts 1:11. If that will not sufiice, let 
Jesus speak : — " Hereafter shall ye see Heaven open, 
and the Son of man sitting on the right hand of 
power, and coming in the clouds of Heaven." "And 
if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, 
and receive you unto myself ; that where I am there 
ye may be also." 

Then we '11 see who loves Jesus and vnhom Jesus 
loves. Pious sentiment then will have to give place 
to stern facts. " Who is on the Lord's side ? " 
What a pertinent question, then, when you will take 
your place on the right or left ! Let this question 
come home to our hearts now, while we can answer 
it ourselves. " He that is ashamed of me and of my 
words before this wicked and adulterous generation, 
of him will I be ashamed before my Father and His 
holy angels." Have you ever given the words of 
Jesus publicity, about His second coming, brother? 
If not, do not talk about loving Jesus ; He and His 
words are somewhat related. Do not crowd up to 
Jesus on the Elysian shores if you have been ashamed 
of His Word here. 



IMITATION OF CHRIST. 49 

JESUS ONLY. 

And Jesus came and touched them and said, Arise, be 
not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they 
saw no man, save Jesus only. Matt. 17 : 7, 8. 

It is related of Paul Boudry, the eminent French 
painter, who recently died, that "he lived whole 
months without seeing any other faces than those of 
his models and the old housekeeper, and very occa- 
sionally a friend." The intense study and applica- 
tion implied by this fact, in addition to his indwell- 
ing personal power, renders it no wonder that he suc- 
ceeded in his likenesses. There are many professing 
disciples of the Master who would come to resemble 
the divine pattern — the great Model set before 
them — more closely, if they would " look unto 
Jesus, the author and finisher of their faith," instead 
of to so many ists and isms, or to the faults and fail- 
ings of others. There are so many man-made no- 
tions which get painted into the representations of 
Christ which are held up to the people, that His 
divinity does not shine forth from the picture. No 
man can dejDict the Christ unaided by the penciling 
of the Holy Spirit — the divine painter. 

How tame are all human efforts to preach Jesus ! 
That old saint who has long sat " down where the 
living waters flow," and cried and sobbed as the 
Lamb of God has now and then come to her enrap- 
tured view, in whom she has trusted for salvation — 
do you not suppose she will recognize Christ when 
preached, though by the untutored backwoodsman? 
And do you suppose she would see Jesus in some 
human efforts, some " great swelling words " of the 
day, with very little or no Jesus in them ? 
3 



60 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

" Sir, we would see Jesus," was the Greek's request 
of Philip. " Then were the disciples glad when they 
saw the Lord," observes Matthew. The Greeks came 
to Philij3 with the above request, because he had a 
reputation for leading men to Christ ; but the request 
should bear today upon many who pretend to preach 
Jesus, as a fitting rebuke. 

Let all who would let their " light so shine that 
men may see their good works, and glorify their 
Father which is in heaven," just separate themselves 
from the world {in spirit^ not literally in a convent), 
and shut themselves up with Christ, the great Model 
of character, and learn how to show Him to men in 
word and deed, and men will take knowledge of them 
that they have been with Jesus. A husband and 
wife who love each other Scripturally will in time 
come to have each other's ways, and somewhat re- 
semble each other. Let us be so wedded to Christ 
that we shall have His ways. '' Behold the Lamb of 
God ! " Do not let His character-picture be long out 
of mind. Get so charmed with Him that you are 
riveted to the spot where He abides — " immovable^ 
always abounding in the work of the Lord." " But 
we all as with open face beholding as in a glass the 
glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image 
from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the 
Lord." 2 Cor. 3: 18. 



CHRIST — WHO? WHAT? 51 

SUBSTANCE OR SHADOW. 

Walki:n"g along a lonely path, a shadow would en- 
tertain us for a time, but no longer than until the 
substance arrived. So of the law "which," Paul 
says, was "a shadow of things to come (Col. 2: 17; 
Heb. 10: 1); but the body is of Christ. After the 
fall of man from his high estate, gloomy was the path 
that he should tread. But God's eternal sun of di- 
vine mercy arose from the darkness, and shone upon 
" the seed of the woman," and the long and some- 
what undefined shadow was cast away down the vista 
of life. Cheered by its presence, and hoping for the 
substance, the faithful served God day and night, 
" waiting for the consolation of Israel." 

Prophets with ears of faith would almost hear the 
footsteps of the Coming One, and would break out in 
beatific vision, unfolding some trait of His character, 
or blessing of His power. At length He came in His 
now well-known meekness and humility, and pressed 
His claim as their expected One — the proof -print of 
the sacrificial tyj^es — the fulfilled voice of proph- 
ecy — with all the evidences of Scripture and mira- 
cle testifying to Him. Many believed on Him to 
their joy, but the multitude rejected, and are still 
rejecting Him — "the end of the law for righteous- 
ness to every one that believeth." How unfortunate 
that the Jews should have still clung to the shadow 
when the substance, which cast it, had arrived! Had 
their faith been of the true kind they would have 
left the shadows of the law in the land of forgetful- 
ness, and have been absorbed in blessed contempla- 
tion of the "body which is of Christ." 

But the Jews were not, and still are not, alone. 
There are Gentiles who had no place in the first cov- 



52 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

enant and law, who centralize more force in defence 
of the shadow than in introduction of, and acquaint- 
ance with, the substance. That they should make a 
" cam " or '' eccentric " of any portion of the law, 
when the Gospel machinery performs the best work, 
on the true center — Christ — is to me a bewilder- 
ment. Christ has so clearly become the " end " — 
fulfillment — swallowing up — " of the law for right- 
eousness' sake to every one that believeth" that to 
reject Him as such is to set up the will; and that is 
the resolution of any other worship, except of *' the 
body, which is of Christ.'' " Which things have in- 
deed a show of wisdom in will y:>orship^ and humility, 
and neglecting [punishing] of the body ; not in any 
honor to the satisfying of the flesh." Col. 2: 23. 
The moment the people of God get off the true cen- 
ter on to any doctrinal cam of Jewish extraction, 
their faith loses its symmetrical shape, and they are 
running " after the commandments and doctrines of 
men." And when men set up their wills to worship 
God in their close harness how things will flourish ! 
They, indeed, have "a show of wisdom and humil- 
ity." Didn't you know that devotees to false religion 
were always the most humble to all appearances and 
the most sacrificing? 

How they will "punish" themselves for their faith 
is astonishing! But what does such woi^ship amount 
to ? It certainly amounts to nothing to take Christ 
along as a side issme to sectarianism. What a mot- 
ley array of sectarian hobbies lie under foot in the 
ecclesiastical path ! Some' have got a phrase off the 
stone of Moses way back on Sinai, and they tell me 
that if I do not live up to the letter of that I shall be 
Bhut out of eternal bliss ! I am so enwrapped in the 



CHEIST — WHO? WHAT? 63 

love of my Christ that I am as impenetrable to all 
these sectarian arrows as though they struck India 
rubber. Why, Moses introduced me to him as he 
came down the celestial railroad with his palace car 
of truth. Moses, the conductor of God's people, 
came to his stopping place, and, without leaving his 
passengers to shirk for themselves, he introduced us 
to the last great Conductor, and said, " hear Him." 
Oh, glory to God ! there is no other change ; He 
takes us through to the end ! We will obey Him ; 
and I will warrant a safe journey. Moses was a 
man ; Abraham was a man ; but this man is the Lord 
from Heaven I Instead of one holy day, they are all 
holy. I see no difference in them as we glide along 
the shores of time in the car of truth. " But some 
esteem one day above another" .... "let every 
man be persuaded in his mind." 

But it makes little difference what the hobby is 
that throws us into eccentricity. The Gosj)el of 
Christ, though clear and comprehensive as compared 
to the law, is but a reflection of Him in the mirror. 
Some dispute over the shadow ; others over minor 
points in the reflection. It seems to me that the 
Lord's triple question to Peter indicates about the 
true center of worship. Bear in mind that the Lord 
was particular enough on this point to ask it three 
times: "Lovest thou Me?^^ Now, reader, where 
does your love center ? If you have got a theoreti- 
cal Jove it will center in some theory of yours. And 
that love never will be of the kind to love your 
neighbor as yourself. It is no use, theory cannot con- 
trol our love so that hate will not break out, so well 
as the person of Christ. But the Bible says that the 
"hope [theory] in us purifieth us even as He is 



64 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

pure." What hope? Read the verse preceding — 
"/br loe shall see Him as He is "/ Then if you do 
not love the person of Christ more than your theory 
you will be in a dilemma. For like a note on time, 
it will be worthless unless satisfyingly met on the 
day of ..maturity. " Lovest thou Me ? " 

As for my hope it centers in the person of Christ, 
and we two are bound together with love too 
strongly for any man or sect to think of separating 
us — " Who shall separate us from the love of 
Christ?" Rom. 8: 35. Do not bother me with 
your side issues and " cam " doctrines ; I have better 
connections. Away with your " golden calf " ; it is a 
pretty piece of work, and shows some wisdom in its 
make, but what is it to worship compared with my 
Lord ? I have one leader, and though he is in the 
mount to commune with God, and has been long 
away, I shall not fall down to your Aaronic calf ; I 
am waiting for his return. What will he think and 
what will you think of that calf when he comes? 

Reader, are you " in Christ " ? Yes ? Well, then 
" abide in Him." Remain in the center, and let the 
lesser sectarian orbs gyrate in their eccentric circuit. 
Christ recognized only two sects — " for Me and 
against Me." We are all in one or the other ; if in 
the former, "why do ye wrong one to another? We 
are all brethren." If in the latter, come to Christ. 

Brethren, the Lord's doctrine only commends Him 
to your love. If you are full of doctrine, and do not 
love the Lord and one another proportionately, I am 
afraid there has been labor bestowed on you in vain. 
Doctrine is not the end, but the means. If other 
folks less favored than you for preaching, love the 
Lord as well as they know how, they can get along 



CHRIST — WHO? WHAT? 65 

without your head better than without their heart. 
It is true that the more knowledge we have of the 
divine economy, and the more accurate that knowl- 
edge is, the more intense and elevated will be our 
love and conceptions thereof; and this should stimu- 
late us to spread this knowledge — but it takes but a 
morsel of headwork to drink in the Lord Jesus to 
the saving of the soul. May we so drink, and follow 
on to know Him. 



OUR SATISFYING PORTION. 

" Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy 
laden," says Christ, " and I will give you rest." And 
just as sure as you come to Him Bible fashion — in 
repentance, faith, trust and obedience — just so sure 
will you find rest ; you will find Him to be your sat- 
isfying portion. See that needle wander around that 
compass, first this way, then that ; now it has come 
to rest. What occasioned it ? It found a magnet ; 
it has got a satisfying portion. It is riveted to that 
spot until you bring along a more attractive magnet. 

Do you see that young man or that young woman 
over there? Well, the time was once when you 
could no more have kept them at home from a dance, 
the theater, or a circus, than you could keep a hyena 
in his cage, and go off and leave the door open. 
What is the matter? Well, the theater runs just 
the same, the circus comes to town as usual, the rosin 
and the bow and the merry dance go on as before, 
but they are not there. And why? They have got 
near the great Magnet, too near to have a wandering 
desire left for trifles. They have found rest. So has 



66 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

that lamb which lies there in the shade on the hill- 
side chewing his sweet cud (not tobacco). Do 
fences contribute to his rest ? No, he is full ; his 
hunger is satiated. Behold the green feast all about 
him. 

No Christian finds rest traveling about with empty 
soul, with every desirable thing labeled "Thou shalt 
not," and every other undesirable thing marked 
" Thou shalt." What that man needs is Christ in 
him the hope of glory ; then he is happy most any- 
where. It is no use to talk religion to a hungry man 
when his stomach is writhing and twisting, and feed- 
ing on itself. Feed him up well, satisfy his stomach, 
then the door of his soul will fly open to your music. 
Neither can God teach a man any good wholesome 
doctrine while that man's desires are wandering over 
the earth. If Christ could only get the children of 
men to sit still long enough looking at Him by faith, 
so that His image might be formed on love's tender 
plate, then their wanderings would cease. 

Let a man become filled with the love of Christ, 
which passeth understanding, then that man has got 
anchored where you can teach him something. They 
do not put colleges on wheels just to suit roving dis- 
positions. No, you go to college, and stick to study 
until graduation day. So come to Christ and abide 
if you want to learn of Him who is meek and lowly 
in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 
" The eye is never satisfied with seeing, nor the ear 
filled with hearing." You think you will be satisfied 
when you go here or there, see this sight or hear that 
concert, but there is the aching void still. 

It is pitiably amusing to see what childish things 
of this world's giving some people think will satisfy 



CHRIST — WHO? WHAT? 57 

them, when you think of the royal road that persons 
of wealth have rode over, and stuck the stake of van- 
ity up at the end. " Oh, I will seek satisfaction in 
education," say you. Ah ! there was one man who 
was blessed with much wisdom who also said that 
was vanity. " In much wisdom is much grief : and 
he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow." 
Cultivated brains do not appease an aching heart, an 
empty soul. "As for me, I will behold Thy face in 
righteousness ; I shall be satisfied when I awake with 
Thy likeness." You want to commence in the mid- 
dle of a man, in his heart, and educate him both 
ways, pocket, brains and all, in order to make a man 
of him. 



THE MYSTERY OF FAITH. 

Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 
— 1 Tim. 3: 9. 

Yerse IG — And v/ithout controversy great is the mystery 
of godhness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the 
Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the gentiles, believed 
on in the world, received up into glory. 

That much of the "depth of the riches of the 
wisdom and knowledge of God" has been "made 
plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it," 
is true ; and yet much is " unsearchable," " past find- 
ing out." "For who hath known the mind of the 
Lord, or who hath been His counselor?" But the 
" Spirit helpeth our infirmities " in this direction. 
While " the natural man receiveth not the things of 
the Spirit of God ; for they are foolishness unto him ; 
neither can he know them, because they are spiritu- 
3* 



58 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

ally discerned " ; and it is said concerning him, " Eye 
hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered 
into the heart of [natural] man, the things which 
God hath prepared for them that love Him , " it is 
our priviledge to know "the deep things of God." 
Because " God hath revealed them unto us by His 
Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the 
deep things of God." The unspiritual man may 
be learned, and know much that can be deduced 
and demonstrated of an intellectual kind ; but the 
subtle, deep, great spiritual facts of divine revelation, 
none save they who are *' filled with the Spirit " can 
grasp. 

God has purposely " hid these things from the wise 
and knowing, and revealed them unto babes." Why ? 
" That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of 
men, but in the power of God." He has hid them in 
the sense that He has placed them so low and avail- 
able that the "poor wayfaring man, though a fool, 
shall not err therein ; " and consequently that is 
equivalent to hiding them from the "knowing" of 
this world who come stalking along in a giraffe-lik-e 
style, in their "heady, high-minded" wisdom. The 
wisdom of God — the hidden wisdom — is all a mys- 
tery to the faithless. None of the princes of this 
world ever knew it, " for had they known it, they 
would not have crucified the Lord of glory." 

To sum up these prefatory words we may say : — 
that divine revelation is darkness to the unregener- 
ated, and light to those hearts which have come to 
beat in unison with the Revealer. And yet, even to 
us "who have the first fruits of the Spirit," and 
have been sometime in *'the path of the just," 
which " is as a shining light that shineth more and 



CHRIST — WHO? WHAT? 59 

more unto the perfect day," there are some great 
problems of faith that are yet mysteries, and prob- 
ably will be until "the mystery of God shall be 
finished, as He hath declared to His servants the 
prophets." 

If there were no mystery in the faith, there would 
be none to hold on to, as Paul admonished the dea- 
cons to do through Timothy. And there is one mys- 
tery to which we wish specially to refer, that was 
even a mystery to that mighty giant of God in the 
Spirit and Word, Paul, namely : — " God manifest in 
the flesh," the incarnation of a pre-existent Christ. 
He says it is " without controversy " ; ^.6., it will 
make it no clearer to argue the point. It is no use 
to fret or get uneasy over it — there it stands. It is 
a mystery simply because of the the plain statements 
of Christ and others which convey the inevitable 
truth of His pre-existence. Do these away, which 
some try to do, and no mystery remains. 

There will be no more a mystery concerning the 
manifestation of Christ in the flesh than there is with 
your or my existence. It is simply this : — '' God's 
pre-existent Word of promise, or his purpose, be- 
came fulfilled or manifested in the birth of Jesus, who 
was unusually as a man baptized with God's power." 
Some are a little too anxious to have their faith 
" stand in the wisdom of men " to suit me. God's 
power has done a great many things that I cannot 
account for by His Word or my reason ; hence, these 
unrevealed things are mysteries. Mystery I how like 
a great bugbear that sounds to many who have been 
led into the dark by the mere use of words. They 
at once think of "Babylon," deception, jugglery, 
spiritualism, superstition, when you speak of any 



60 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

Bible fact of faith as a mystery. They want every- 
thing demonstrated in figures, as plain as two and 
two make four, before they can believe it. Now that 
is all wrong, and contrary to the practice of common 
life. A mystery is simply something that you do not 
know about. Have you found out all of God's 
ways? 

One thing have I concluded upon, and that is : — 
When I see a man who claims to have all these great 
problems of faith all simplified out clear as day, and 
proclaiming that he has got the truth, — that it is all 
as plain as day that Christ did not personally exist be- 
fore the incarnation, and all that, — to set him down a 
veritable egotist or bigot. I do not say it any more 
concerning this fact of faith than some others. I am 
no specialist for pre-existence. Unless God has got 
another Bible, which some others have got posses- 
sion of, there is a possibility of my knowing what 
is revealed and what is not as well as they. What 
we know should be what has been revealed, not what 
we have twisted or overlooked. Be careful how you 
solve mysteries which God Himself has not seen fit 
as yet to solve. You may be carelessly treading 
around one of these days, and get spoken to by God 
as He spoke to Moses, to take off his shoes, for he 
was on holy ground. There is holy ground very 
near some of these subtle Bible truths, and God has 
made the bush to burn for many an inquiring heart 
concerning them. 

In these days, when men are fast changing thoughts 
and faiths, it will be well to bear in mind that there 
are some things to hold on to if we have ever believed 
in "the first principles of the doctrine of Christ." 
" Holding the mystery of the faith." Hold on to the 



CHRIST — WHO ? WHAT ? 61 

old scriptural faith " once delivered to the saints." 
But love for truth has waxed cold. What the fathers 
bled and died for rather than relinquish, men of to- 
day are plenty who will toss it aside as unconcern- 
edly as if it was of no account. In clearing God's 
building of error and rubbish, be moderate, or you 
will throw something away one of these days that 
unexpected needs will make you wish you had kept. 



CHRIST'S PRE-EXISTENCE. 

It seems to me that Christ must have had a per- 
sonal existence before sin came into the world, from 
the fact that virtue is claimed for the Father by the 
Son, and by the Apostle John for yielding Him up, 
and sending Him into the world as a sacrifice for the 
sins of the world. The Son says, John 3 : 16 : — 
" For God so loved the world, that He gave His only 
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him 
should not perish, but have everlasting life." In har- 
mony with this, the Apostle John, "that disciple 
whom Jesus loved," and who " leaned on His bosom," 
and probably had many of these things revealed to 
him, says, " In this was manifested the love of God 
toward us, because that God sent His only begotten 
Son into the world that we might live through Him." 
1 John 4: 9. 

Now I am utterly at a loss to see the pertinence of 
these statements unless God had a Son to love before 
He sent Him into the world ; but there is a mighty 
pith in them when we believe, what a natural reading 
of them ought to teach, that God yielded His beloved 
and only begotten Son, and took Him out of His own 



62 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

bosom, and sacrificed Him for our sakes that we 
might live. Any other construction takes the pith 
all out of them, and you may as well take your pen 
and draw it across the passages. 

I cannot see any virtue in the sacrifice of a thing 
which has no pre-existence to the time the gift is be- 
stowed, but which is created for that especial occa- 
sion. It cannot be a task for God to create a person 
or thing ; He has only to speak and it is done. But 
it must have been a task for Him to give up Jesus 
for us ; and yet His love for us was so gTcat that He 
readily did it. Mark you, God is to be praised as a 
Creator; but these passages do not so praise Him. 
They praise Him for giving up His Son, and sending 
Him into the world to save us. It seems to me, — 
and I do not wish to be dogmatical, for I will readily 
believe otherwise if it can be shown, — that the pre- 
existence of Christ is the fulcrum in these passages, 
and others, over which the lever of the love of God 
is put to move the world, and it has moved it when 
so used. Night after night an evangelist preached in 
Moody's Tabernacle in Chicago with good' success, 
from John 3 : 16, dwelling on the love of God, and 
doubtless not even alluding to those things which 
form no small part of our blessed hope. But I 
should think one sermon would suflice on the love of 
God, if God had no Son to love only prospectivdy 
till He had already got into the world at Bethlehem. 
I have no theories to advance beyond what is re- 
vealed, but the beauty of these passages in my eyes 
is seen in the light of the pre-existent personality of 
God's Son. 

You and I, my reader, could toil and produce that 
which would alleviate the sufferings of a neighbor, 



CHRIST — WHO? WHAT? 63 

but to put upon the market, to be sold for their be- 
half, a family treasure which had long been valued as 
a keepsake — would that not test our love ? Well, it 
seems to me that the exigencies of the case of utter 
despair in man's lost estate in sin required that God 
should open the family treasures of Heaven, and put 
His precious jewel, His only begotten Son, upon the 
market, to be sold to meet the requirements of di- 
vine law in our case. Oh, how we ought to love 
Him for that ! Tears of gratitude flow as I write. 
" Unto you therefore which believe He is precious." 
1 Peter 2:7. If Judas and others have sold Him 
cheap, thank God He brought enough in the eyes of 
divine law by living up to it, and dying for our sakes, 
and coming out alive to clear the debt, and have 
enough left over to make us an acceptable present in 
the world to come — " the unspeakable gift " — " the 
gift of God," which "is eternal life through Jesus 
Christ our Lord." 

Then again, Christ must have had a personal pre- 
existence from the fact that the Apostle Paul credits 
Him with a very virtuous choice and action, which 
cannot sensibly be thought of as occurring only as 
before He came into the world, viz , that of yielding 
up His rich estate for our sakes, " that we through His 
poverty might be rich." 2 Cor. 8 : 9. And, bear 
in mind, He brings this up as an ex'ample in 
Christian giving. "A bird in the hand is worth two 
in the bush," is a trite saying, and there is more vir- 
tue in giving what one possesses than in what one 
expects to possess. " If a brother or sister be naked, 
and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto 
them. Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled [on 
the strength of expected riches] notwithstanding ye 



64 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

give them not those things which are needful to the 
body; what doth it profit?" James 2: 15, 16. It 
were a poor argument for Paul to bring up, and a 
poor example of graceful giving to cite to us, if 
Christ's riches were simply prospective. Evidently 
such was not the case ; but the pith of the argument 
rests on the fact of Christ's yielding up pre-existent 
riches and glory, and becoming for our sakes "of no 
reputation," yes, "taking upon Him the form of a 
servant," being made in " the likeness of men," etc. 
Phil. 2 : 5-8. " Let this mind be in you which was 
in Christ Jesus." When was this mind in Him? It 
was in Him all along, but it was in Him before He 
started^ as it should be in every person before they 
start to serve God. It was His choice ; He volun- 
teered to come into the world, " Lo I come, in the 
volume of the Book it is written of Me, I delight to 
do Thy will, O God." "Sacrifice and offering Thou 
wouldest not, but a body hast Thou prepared ilfe." 
The Me existed in some personal sense before the 
body was prejDared; and Christ, as our Priest, of- 
ered His own body " once for all." " Let this mind 
be in you which was in Christ" — not in giving 
something which you never possessed, and which you 
may never possess, but in graciously giving that 
which you already possess \ that was the mind of 
Christ. 



CHRIST — WHO? WHAT? 65 

CHRIST OUR HONOR. 

''Unto you therefore which believe He is precious; " or, 
as the margin has it, " an honor." (1 Pet. 2:7.) 

Christ is to the believer both precious and honor- 
able ; like a cluster of very precious diamonds worn 
about the neck, which are an honor to the wearer — 
the insignia of royalty — and to be taken care of and 
not trampled in the mud. 

A prince, heir-apparent of a mighty throne, mar- 
riageable with royal blood, is in love with a kitchen 
maid who, as it were, is cast out of society, and lieth 
among the pots in the scullery — such is Christ to us. 

Shame? To whom does it belong? Shall a mill 
girl be ashamed to walk with a noble-hearted prince ? 
Ah ! we ought to realize the grand elevation of our 
relationship with the Prince of Life. Did you ever 
notice how differently you felt when you went forth 
from the society of some one who is great in this 
earth's greatness? You felt a touch of pride in 
worldly honor. But this is altogether different from 
that. The more you realize your elevation in Christ, 
the more you feel like condescending to men of low 
estate to seek and to save them. Christ takes you 
from the mire that you may lift others up. You 
remember the pit from whence you were digged, and 
your sympathy and helping hand is put forth to 
others who are as you were, in disgrace and despair. 

In the gall of nature, men will speak of their 
honor: — ''That is insulting to my honor;" "I take 
pride in my honor ;" " I give you my word of honor." 
And when their abused honor can not be patched up, 
any other way to satisfy them, they fight a duel, 
according to " the code of honor;" that is called, 
satisfaction." 



G6 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

But when a man gives his heart to Christ, Christ 
becomes his honor; he forgets all about his honor, 
and seeks to know and do that which will honor 
Christ. You can insult him and roll him in the mud, 
and he will not feel half so badly as though he had in 
an unguarded moment spoken or done that which is 
a dishonor to Christ. He counts all but " loss " that 
he may win Christ." We ought to feel grateful to 
think of salvation through menial service to Christ ; 
but He has taken us fairly and squarely right into the 
firm as great sharers in its benefits ! Oh, the won- 
ders of divine grace ! Who ever had faith enough 
to take it all in his grasp ? A child might as well 
undertake to embrace in his chubby arms the Capitol 
at Washington. 

Partners with Christ — not "silent partners," but 
— working together with Him out among folks, so 
that they know their relation to Him, but yet all in 
His name. Grace upon grace, bounty upon bounty — 
what priviledge ! what exaltation ! Come up to your 
opportunity, brother ! The man who is in this part- 
nership (furnishing his body while Christ furnishes 
the grace to keep it), is a fool to quit and set up for 
himself. 

See that picker of self-righteous rags ; he will paw 
over the church dump all day, and will go home poor 
and hungry at night when he might be at the table 
of a Prince. A miserable way to get along that is. 

Be obedient, brother. We get a wrong idea of 
obedience, sometimes. We think it means to go^ 
slave-like, to do this or that off on a given level, but 
it really often means to come — come up — come into 
the parlor, George, we have got company, and I have 
got something for you. 



CHRIST — WHO? WHAT? 67 

I have seen boys who were coDsidered obedient, 
yet of so modest and retiring a nature that you could 
not hire them to come into the parlor when uncle 
John and aunt Mary had arrived from Boston. Al- 
though that is the most excusable form of disobedi- 
ence, yet it is displeasing to a father whose pride is in 
his boy. 

Let us mind the comes of the Bible as well as the 
goes^ and know the joys of the Master's love, and 
appreciate the honor of His name. Don't starve on 
that counterfeit modesty or humility which the Devil 
has always been interested in to keep you away from 
the King's table. Come to the free board, and live, 
and let your " soul delight itself in fatness," and 
make your boast in the Lord." 



THE SILENCE OF JESUS. 

Much has been said — and should be — about the 
gracious words of Jesus ; but little thought, perhaps, 
has been given to the grandeur and wisdom of His 
silence. " He spake as never man spake," and He 
held His tongue as never man held his. He set us an 
example worthy of our highest efforts to imitate in 
both particulars. He who said that for " every idle 
word that men shall speak, they shall give account 
thereof in the day of judgement," knew the weight 
of the inj9uence of our words for good or for evil, 
and lived a pattern of all purity Himself. 

Just when man in all the strength of his character, 
unaided by divine strength, would have fainted, fal- 
tered, and held his peace, then words of grace like 



68 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

• showers, and stinging sentences of rebuke like peals 
of thunder poured forth from His lips. When any- 
human teacher would have been completely routed 
and nonplussed with the questions which were pro- 
pounded Him, He answered them at once with the 
ease of one who knew all their bearings, and at 
least with such convincing wisdom that from that 
time "no man durst ask Him any more questions." 
And when man would have been officious with words, 
and rattling off anathemas. He held His peace. 
Pilate might have heard the reported sayings of 
Jesus, or even heard Him preach, and have wondered 
at His wisdom, as well he might ; but when Jesus 
was brought before him " accused of the chief priests 
and elders," and " answered nothing," and was inter- 
rogated again by himself — "Hearest Thou how many- 
things they witness against Thee " ? and '* answered 
to him never a word," then it was* that Pilate '* mar- 
velled greatly." As much as to say, in modern par- 
lance, "What can He be made of"? Think of the 
wisdom and authority of one who deigned not to 
answer the governor when God could be better 
served without ! 

Wisdom is the right use of knowledge, and Jesus 
was filled with both, for "in Him dwelt all the 
fullness of the Godhead bodily." He knew when 
it was best to speak and what to say, and when 
the Gospel would be best furthered by his si- 
lence. His silence was not merely incidental or 
accidental ; it was often, the triumph over the well- 
laid plot of the scribes and Pharisees to catch Him 
in His words, that they might have whereof to accuse 
Him. And when jostled, jammed, and "urged vehe- 
mently " — pushed on with hypocritical amens — to 



CHRIST — WHO? WHAT? 69 

say that which one might desire to take back. His 
equipoise was never disturbed ; He went no farther 
than the golden line which divinity marked; His 
words were the brightness of the sun ; His temper 
the serenity of the moon. He was master of every 
situation. He traveled with an authority which He 
never misused. He loved and accepted the adoration 
of the lowly which was given in true faith, but He 
would not suffer the fulsome praise of the demons 
who knew Him. He was an arbiter to whom even 
they had to submit. And so far as authority and 
power were concerned, Rome and Jewry were no 
match for Him. Before Napoleon, backed with his 
army, no power earthly could seem to stand] but 
Napoleon on Helena was as weak as other men. But 
Christ at Pilate's judgment-seat was the same Christ 
still, and as unshorn of power as when Galilee's 
waves obeyed His word. And even twelve legions 
of angels waited on tiptoe for but the beck of His 
finger, and they would have lain Rome in dust. 

But thus it behooved Him to fulfill all righteous- 
ness ; He must die, and for us. That was what He 
came for. Had his life been as crooked as is that of 
some would-be leaders and rulers, He would have 
needed to have scoured the community to have got 
witnesses in His defence, and have testified in His 
own behalf. But there was no need of this. There 
was His life. Look at that. Put your finger on a 
flaw. It could not be done. Only false accusations, 
which are never hard to get, could put Jesus to 
death, and mercy for them lasted to His latest breath, 
with some left over to His resurrection morning. 
The occasion of the woman taken in adultery was a 
time for human debate and denunciation, but Jesus 



70 



CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 



stooped down and wrote on the ground what nobody- 
knows, and perhaps never will know; but a few 
words stilled the human tempest, and spake peace to 
a troubled soul. 

In the danger of being overwhelmed by a water- 
spout the vigilant pilot at sea has the wisdom and 
skill to put a bullet through it with his rifle, and dis- 
perse the gathering destruction. Christ had that 
wisdom on the sea of life. Have we^ as John says, 
" of His fullness all received, and grace for grace ? " 
John 1:16. If so, we shall be known for ihe grace 
of silence as well as for words of wisdom. 



THE FOUNTAIN OP YOUTH. 




1. Christ's witness of John was a grand one. — 
"He was a burning and a shining light." Do you 
want that said of you, by the Lord, after your death? 
Then you must not only have your lamp burning, but 
keep it trimmed. There are many Christians who 
have a feeble, flickering light, which does not shine 



CHRIST OUE. LIFE. 71 

much on account of its need of a cleansing and trim- 
ming. I mean by this that a new consecration to the 
work of God will help the shining qualities of almost 
any Christian, if his light does yet burn, and the oil 
does yet hold out. Let the wise virgins arise and 
trim their lamps. 

2. Christ's witness about the Jews, though true, 
does not sound so grandly : — "And ye were willing 
for a season to rejoice in His light." How much bet- 
ter that would sound if it read "And ye were willing 
ever to rejoice in His light." Those words "/br a 
season'*'^ take the glory out of their record. Will that 
be said of you or me? I hope not. But take heed. 
Remember that rejoicing in the light through a re- 
vival, when everybody is being converted, is not 
enough. That is all right as far as it goes, but is 
only "for a season." You will soon meet a cross 
which will stand in the fork of the heavenly and 
worldly ways. You will have to go ma the cross if 
you go to lasting glory. There are many things 
which constitute these crosses. There are crosses 
particular and crosses general. What tests one does 
not always try another. Many stop in the heavenly 
way at the cross of baptism ; others at the cross of 
confessing to some one whom they have injured. But 
many switch off into worldly darkness because some 
truths relating to the second coming of Christ are 
crossing to believe and cherish and follow out. " By 
their fruits ye shall know them." 

Men have been on the hunt, and some have 
claimed to have discovered, the fountain of perpetual 
youth; but the fact is, Time's scythe keeps on mow- 
ing its awful swathe, and disease, death, and the 
Devil are even distancing Time, and getting more 



72 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

than their share. If a mm should happen to dis- 
cover such a fountain bubbling out of the earth some- 
where in some back country town, that man would 
never cease to be praised, and all conveyances to it 
that might be pressed into service, never would lack 
for passengers {promded there was no cross in it). 
What a throng of cripples, grey heads, bald heads, 
invalids, and even youth, who might be anxious to 
increase their capital stock of vigor, there would be 
crowding around such a spot ! And selfishness would 
be rampant; the weak would have to give place to 
the strong, who would be anxious to become stronger ; 
policemen's billies would have to be employed to 
keep back those folks who are forever monopolizing a 
prayer-meeting, starving the weak, and wearing out 
the saints. 

Well, there is no such fountain coming out of the 
earth. The earth is as bad off as we are — all under 
death, all under the curse. "Who can bring a clean 
thing out of an unclean? Not one." You cannot 
expect a stream to rise higher than its fountain. The 
only thing that seems to be immortal in the earth is 
New" Hampshire rocks ; they abide so well that our 
Christ is compared to a Rock of Ages, which is cleft 
for us, that we may run into its deep cavern and find 
shelter from the coming storm. 

No ; we find no locality, no foothold in the earth, 
where we may plant ourselves and live long. When 
the creeping waters of the deluge began to feel for 
the vitals of earth's terror-stricken inhabitants, they 
began to search for higher altitudes on which to 
escape the on-coming tide of death ; but it was use- 
less. The last summit had to yield finally to the put- 
ting on of the black cap of death. Tigers, lions, chil- 



CHRIST OUB LIFE. 73 

dren,men, and women, in one common herd, doubtless 
with terror, bewailed their fate, as life's sun went 
down, and they sank beneath the angry billows, while 
Noah and his family, in obedience to their Creator, 
sailed peacefully over the wave. 

There was once a fountain of youth growing out of 
the earth on purpose that men should partake of it 
and live forever — the tree of life, in Eden's paradise; 
but man, by disobedience to God, became a sinner ; 
and then God took good care that he should not par- 
take of it in his sins, and perpetuate wickedness. A 
wise and loving Creator planned man's nature and des- 
tiny; it is manifested in that he follows disobedience 
with death. If the wicked race of men could only 
get at a spring of life and drink and be immortal, I 
should want to emigrate from this world right early. 
About all the grip God has on incorrigibly rebellious 
sinners is the death grip, and He does not propose to 
let go of that while this order of things continues. 
The Devil's days are also numbered, and a clean uni- 
verse is to be realized soon. 

But, thanks be to God! there is a fountain of eter- 
nal youth after all! It is Christ. But to get at him 
is by way of the cross, by self-denial ; and getting there 
means cleanness from sin ; so the way is not crowded 
— "here and there a traveler." No fountain of 
youth in the earth, but one has come down from 
heaven and quickened whosoever will to a life of mor- 
tality, spirituality, and is coming soon to quicken us 
to an unending physical life. 

Brother! the only way to escape the deluge was 
Noah's ark, or rather God'^s ark, which Noah built 
according to divine direction. Noah did not own 
a slab of it, not even his own body. And the only 

4k 



74 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

way to escape the fiery deluge which is coming is 
God's way; and that way is Christ. "I am the way, 
the truth, and the life," said He, while here. This 
death here, which may be effected by the suicidal 
stroke, is only a temporary escape. All precedents 
fall short of the mark in illustration of this climatical 
epoch to which we refer. Noah and family, after 
they landed, all died and the ark rotted. " But they 
who are accounted worthy to obtain that world and 
the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor 
are given in marriage, but are equal unto the angels, 
neither can they die any more." Grand consumma- 
tion! Great reckoning day, when men shall receive 
for the deeds done in the body ! 

Would you live eternally, reader, in a realm of 
health, joy, and peace ? Pat yourself by faith in 
Christ — in the cleft of the Rock; then, " When He 
who is our life shall appear, ye shall appear with 
Him in glory." 



INTERCESSION. 

In the anguish of his soul, under the false imputa- 
tions of pretended friends, the tempted and tried Job 
complained because there was not "a daysman" 
between him and God. There were already three 
who were trying to act in that capacity toward him, 
but with imperfect results. They did not know the 
situation ; and whoever labors to effect reconciliation 
in that way will spend his breath for nought. Job 
wanted a real daysman — some one clothed with the 
knowledge of the case and with authority to act. 
Talk — mere talk — does not bring peace. Some one 



CHRIST — WHO? WHAT? 75 

was wanted who would run to God and beseech Him 
in the matter. Job's ears were full of the voices of 
raen. How his heart did yearn for some one to bring 
him a real fresh word from God Himself. " Good 
news " from Heaven was what the afflicted man 
wanted. 

Well, God does not plant seeds of desire in the 
soul to lie there and decay ; they are there to come to 
fruitage — to realization. God heard and spake Him- 
self to Job, to his great comfort and consolation, 
because "the fullness of time" had not come; but 
behold, later on, Job's lack was to others fully sup- 
plied. " Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away 
the sin of the world!" Here is Job's daysman. He 
understands the situation. He needs not to be told 
what is in man. More than that, he is "touched with 
the feelings of our infirmities." And you do not get 
any cold, formal service from one who is touched 
with your case; it becomes the absorbing and con- 
trolling theme. He "was in all points tempted like 
as we are, yet without sin." He knows how and feels 
like sympathizing with the troubled as well as talking 
to them. "For in that He Himself hath suffered, 
being tempted, He is able to succor them that are 
tempted." "jS^ is ahleP Hear it! Authority at- 
tends Him. 

The value of a friend who stands high in the es- 
teem of the person we wish to obtain favor or mercy 
of cannot be overestimated. There are times when 
we wish to approach one who has power to bestow a 
much-desired favor upon us; but we are strangers; 
we have never been " made nigh " in any way. Then 
the friend comes in and does the work that we could 
not do. So Christ Jesus has done and is yet doing 



76 CBUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

for poor sinners undone and strangers to God. 
Heaven has been befriended for them. Salvation 
"to the uttermost " is i^romised all ^' who come unto 
God by Him." There are no favorable positions 
above another in the line of all who would file along 
to the windows of Heaven for a blessing. ^^ JVow is 
the accepted time." Let him who stands last in the 
line speak if he will. " Whosoever will, let him 
come." 

Then there is a special value in personal interces- 
sions. Your friend cannot do so well in any other 
way as to go himself to the object of your fears and 
speak for you. There is power in the presence, the 
voice and the eye of the intercessor. Men will toss 
aside letters of inquiry, petition and recommendation, 
when they will listen to personal appeals properly 
put. So Christ came to our aid, and not only prayed 
for Peter and us, but it was " expedient that he go 
away" for us. Comfort was to come out of it. He 
went to " appear in the presence of God for us." 
Surely " we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus 
Christ the righteous." What hath not the Lord done 
for our souls ? " Let us therefore come boldly unto 
the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and 
find grace to help in time of need." 



HE CAN BE TOUCHED. 

I HAVE seen people who were so thoroughly ab- 
sorbed in some small business, and with the idea of 
their own greatness, that, to use a common expres- 
sion, " you could not touch them with a ten-foot 



CHEIST — WHO? WHAT? 77 

pole." When a man gives evidence that he is well 
posted as to his own greatness, it is the best testi- 
mony of his smallness. Really great men seem the 
most common sort of folks — simple and unaffected 
in manner. Why should they not be? Real persons 
do not have to affect unrealities. Solid gold needs no 
plating. The most pious people have been noted for 
their absent-mindedness concerning their own piety. 
He who is forever tooting his own horn needs the 
noise to make up the deficiency in real worth. 

Again, there are those who are stoical to all that is 
touching and sympathetic in life. You might as well 
try to draw a tear from a statue. They are ashamed 
of tears. This shame has case-hardened them until 
they are tear-proof. They had as soon be discovered 
in a crime as in tears. Tears are their evidences of 
the breaking down of manhood. 

Others are sympathetic in spots, streaks, currents or 
circles. If a man is in trouble, and happens to belong 
to their church or order, he will be attended to quick 
enough then, but if not, they will " pass by on the 
other side." It is easy enough for such priests and 
Levites to be deaf to human woes. 

But there is a Great Heart which throbs in Heaven 
for all our distresses. "For we have not an high 
priest which cannot be touched." Thank God for 
that ! Not so lofty as to disdain to notice the cries 
of the poor, needy and distressed of earth. Not so 
holy in the presence of the Father and the angels but 
that He can notice poor sinners. Not so overcharged 
with care as to become in the least impatient with 
the pleas of the distressed. He can he touched — he 
can be approached. How? Not with the feelings of 
our greatness, which are generally expressed in great 



78 CKUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

swelling words, but " with the feelings of our infirmi- 
ties." For He " was tempted in all points as we are, 
yet without sin." 

Have you any "feelings of infirmities," reader? 
Have you ever felt weary under the load of sin — the- 
burden of guilt? Has the pillow ever been moist- 
ened with the tears of remorse and true penitence ? 
Has the cry, "Lord, be merciful to me a sinner," been 
sent up by you ? Well, there is somebody up there 
who can be touched by all that. 

Oh, what a compassionate Christ have we! The 
good Samaritan, after the priest and Levite had 
"passed by on the other side," came to the poor 
wounded, suffering man, and " had compassion on 
him," and "bound up his wounds." Just like the 
Lord. He will not turn us empty away. " He that 
Cometh unto Me, I will in no wise cast out." " Let 
us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, 
that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in 
time of need." Heb. 4 : 16. 

We have a David who will, for Jonathan's sake, 
have compassion on the poor Mephibosheths, " lame 
in both feet " ; and they " shall eat bread at his table 
continually." 2 Sam. 9. Are there any more, that 
he may show the kindness of God unto them ? 



"WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST?" 

Some think that He was the very God, the Father 
manifest in the flesh. Such a position involves the 
remodeling of the whole New Testament revelation 
concerning Him, and the bringing about of the 
strangest anomalies imaginable. We are now speak- 



CHKIST — WHO? WHAT? 79 

ing of the personal existence of Christ. Instead of 
having a Father, He is His own Father. Instead of 
Simeon and Anna taking the babe in their arms, and 
thanking God for Him, they should have thanked the 
babe — the little dear thing which had to grow and 
wax strong under God's grace - — for ever coming into 
the world. Instead of Christ having His Father's 
approval at baptism — "This is my beloved Son in 
whom I am well pleased " — God voted Himself self- 
approval ; a very wrong example to set His followers. 
Instead of John saying, " Behold the Lamb of God 
which taketh away the sin of the world," He should 
have said, " Behold God Himself." Instead of God 
so loving the world that He gave His Son, or of His 
sending His Son into the world, he took it upon Him- 
self to come into the world. Then there was the 
farce of God praying all night to Himself^ and sweat- 
ing great drops of blood to have a cup pass from Him 
which He must needs have known before He prayed, 
was the very thing he came into the world to expe- 
rience. 

In this connection it should be noted that Christ 
admitted in Mark 13 : 32, when speaking of the end 
of the world, that His Father knew more than He 
did. " But of that day and that hour knoweth no 
man, no, not the angels which are in Heaven, neither 
the Son, but the Father." Let those who believe 
that Christ was God himself, make anything but 
deception of this passage. Indeed such a position 
makes Christ throughout all his prayers and thanks- 
givings, which were many, act the part of a deceiver. 
Though He said, " In secret have I said nothing," His 
whole talk and manner was in disguise. This foolish 
error makes Jesus act strangely every day. Then, 



80 CKUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

again, when He " poured His soul out unto death," and 
"made it an offering for sin" (Isa. 58), being the only 
God there was, the world was without a God three 
days and nights ! A reckless position that is. And 
though Peter said, " God raised Him (Christ) from 
the dead,^' he was mistaken ; it was God wlio raised 
Himself» Christ should have said, " This power (to 
lay down My life and take it again) have I in Myself 
by nature," instead of "This power have I received 
of My Father." 

Well, this is but a mere rude sketch of the absurd- 
ity of such a position. But there is Scripture that 
looks that way, is there not? Yes. And when un- 
derstood as describing the nature and character of 
Christ, the great fact of His pre-existence, his co- 
existence, with the Father at the beginning of our 
world, and the power and authority resting upon 
Him, and not His personal existence among men^ and 
all is plain. But here I would remark, for the benefit 
of those who hesitate to believe in Christ's pre-exis- 
ence, that I think, in the light of much Scripture, 
they thereby yield the argument to those who believe 
He was the very God. As the writer cannot accept 
the latter absurdity, he rests his faith in the former 
statements as the rational solution of many otherwise 
Scriptural difficulties. 

Again, Christ's personal existence is said to be " tlie 
express image" of that of His Father's; but call Him 
the very God, and He is the picture (moral or physi- 
cal) of Himself. Truly he could say to Philip, " He 
that hath seen Me, hath seen the Father," because 
He was like His Father in character and attributes — 
an important fact in those days of shallow preten- 
sions. Then speaking of the person of God, Christ 



CHRIST — WHO? WHAT? 81 

could truly say, " No man hath seen God at any time.'' 
Strange doctrine that is which makes Christ His own 
Father, with the Father in Heaven, and to the Son on 
earth, and the latter in the attitude of praying to 
Himself in Heaven! It seems after all that when 
the Pharisee " prayed with himself," he was not doing 
so bad after all ; that was the way Christ did if this 
doctrine be true. 

Oh no, we can never be a Unitarian as to person- 
alities. Christ never made the meaningless promise, 
" Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God," 
when the pure in heart were looking right straight at 
Him; as would be the case were this doctrine true. 
The old Unitarianism which believes in one God, and 
admits that Christ was another person and a good 
teacher, is more sensible than this Swedenborgian 
notion, adopted by so many, that Christ was the very 
God. 

Well, wasn't " God manifest in the flesh," as Paul 
says? Y(^s. And so it is a hardware store manifest in 
the flesh, when its representative, the traveling agent, 
calls upon you to solicit your favors. " God was in 
Christ reconciling the world to Himself ; " not Christ 
was in God, reconciling the world to Himself. So far 
as God's dealings with man are concerned, Christ was 
the very God ; and those that reject Him will find 
this to be true at the reckoning day when it is too 
late. Job cried out in the agony of his soul for a 
daysman to stand between him and God. Well, we 
now have Him m " the man Christ Jesus." The Lord 
help us to early make Him our Friend, Intercessor 
and Saviour. 



4* 



*' Oh, how we ought to love him, 
Because He took us in.'* 



82 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

KEEPING SILENCE. 

"To everything there is a season, and a time to 
every purpose under the heaven; ... a time to keep 
silence, and a time to speak," said the sage king of 
Israel. And in this respect the precept of Solomon 
was no wiser than the example of Jesus was true. 
Solomon, like many others, could preach well ; but 
not always did he demonstrate the truth of his pre- 
cepts by his life. Jesus not only lived up to His own 
preaching, but to everybody's else, as recorded in the 
Scriptures. No wonder that He was " a greater than 
Solomon." Jesus was a living Bible. He was, as it 
were, the scattered type of the Bible set in beautiful, 
intelligent order ; His life, the printed page — printed 
so plain that a child might read more than humanity 
there ; yea, divinity. Right well might He think that 
people should believe on Him " for the very work's 
sake." He prayed for us, and taught us how to pray; 
He preached us sermons — blessed sermons — and 
instructed us how to preach ; He talked to us, and 
reminded us how to talk ; answered every question 
where an answer would have benefited us ; and last, 
but not least — the greatest — He kept silent for us, 
and taught us how and when to keep silent. May 
this last lesson be deeply impressed upon our hearts. 

The mightiest sermon of His lite began to be 
preached " when He was accused of the chief priests 
and elders," and "answered nothing." " Then said 
Pilate unto Him, Hearest thou not how many things 
they witness against Thee? And He answered him 
never a word ; insomuch that the governor mar- 
veled greatly." Matt. 27 : 12-14. There is not much 
marvel among sinners when saints revile when they 



CHRIST — WHO? WHAT? 83 

are reviled. That is perfectly natural. Tney make 
up their minds that they are no better than them- 
selves. But when reviled, abused, slandered and ag- 
gravated, if they "answer nothing," they will marvel 
as did Filate. Think of Jesus, who was subject to 
temptation, and " was tempted in all points like as 
we are, yet without sin." Never was a being treated 
worse. They mocked Him, spit on Him, smote Him, 
laughed at Him, and subjected Him to vile abus6. 
They exhausted every means of devilish provision 
to exasperate this being who was " meek and lowly 
in heart," and exasperated themselves. They said, 
"Answerest thou the high priest nothino;?" "But 
Jesus held His peace." It seems to me if I had fol- 
lowed Jesus all through His ministry along the Gali- 
lean shore, as an unbeliever, I should have believed 
on Him there. Who, with a heart not of adamant, 
could have witnessed the trial of Jesus, and not have 
been touched with sympathy for Him, and a convic- 
tion that "truly this was the Son of God"? The 
sturdy centurion did say this as the earth quaked at 
his expiring moments, but probably he had been be- 
fore touched with the possibility of its trutlu 

Many a time during His short ministry had people 
said, "Never man spake like this man"; but on this 
occasion they marveled at His silence. Well they 
might. When the wind blows, one might expect the 
water over which it passes would become rough. 
But, like a lake in an October day, reflecting over- 
hanging glories, so was Jesus in His silence, — a mar- 
vel, indeed! This was not in nature. " He that rul- 
eth his spirit is greater than he that taketh a city." 
Jesus acted out this proverb, too, there. God help us 
to imitate this heroism. Remember it is just as 



84 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

praiseworthy to keep silent on some occasions as to 
speak on others. Many dogs will bark when their 
barking only frightens away the game. It is a faith- 
ful dog that watches his master so close as to know 
when to keep still and when to bark. It does not 
take much effort to " set on " some dogs to barking, 
but it will take much earnest coaxing to call them 
away. Well, we are not dogs, I hope ; but let us 
obey our Master, Christ, very faithfully, and He will 
be pleased with us, and give us at last everlasting 
salvation. 



WORDS WITH THE TJNSAVED. 85 



CHAPTER IV. 

GOD'S LOVE FOR THE SINNER. 
JOHN 3 : 16. 

God does not love the sinner because he is a sinner. 
A mother does not love her daughter because she has 
got a cancer in her breast: she loves her because she 
is her child, and in spite of the cancer. She may 
bestow more anxiety upon her than upon a well child, 
more sympathy, more love and interest in her, which 
the well one does not need, that she may be restored 
to health. There is more concern in Heaven over 
one sinner than over ninety-and-nine just persons. 
The angels must look upon a saint with an eye of 
comfort, but upon the sinner with one of anxiety. 

God loves you, my friend, because you are his off- 
spring — you were made in His image once. You 
have marred and soiled the image, but God loves you 
yet if you are a wayward child, and the latch-string 
still hangs out of the heavenly home. God loves 
the sinner as considered apart from his sins, what he 
was once, and what he might be if sin were removed. 
God hates sin and loves the sinner. He sees sin 
when we can see none, and virtue where we never 
imagined there was any. He has a masterly eye and 
a mighty hand. A workman goes through a forest in 
search for timber; his eye sees beauty in a stick that 
you and I would not. Ah ! here is one with gnarls 
and crooks; that is just the one he wants. He does 
not admire the gnarls and knots, but he sees in it 
what he wants, minus the gnarls and knots ; those 



86 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

will come off easy enough under his hand. All men 
are worth saving, and are the objects of God's love, 
but some are chosen vessels. He takes them as they 
are, and utilizes them after sin has been removed. 

A young sculptor appears to an old master as a 
student. " Can you see a lion in that block of mar- 
ble, sir ? " " No, sir." " Then you will never be a 
success as a sculptor." God sees a saint, a preacher, a 
poet, a worker, no doubt, in many a slum and den of 
sin, i.e. , material there to make one of if taken out of 
such a place and cleansed from sin and filled with 
Himself — some one worth saving, anyway. It is 
somebody's son, somebody's father, somebody's 
brother. A diamond is a diamond, if it is in the 
gutter and covered with mud. The mud will wash 
off. Is your brother down there ? Somebody's is. 
The Son of man came to seek and to save that which 
was lost. 



BEHOLD! 

Behold — not the preacher, the church members, 
the choir, the attractive or non-attractive edifice, nor 
yourself, be you ever so unworthy or of so much con- 
sequence in your own eyes — "Behold the Lamb of 
God!" Behold, look, see; wonderful was He to the 
natural eye; marvelously more to the eye of faith. 
Well, what of Him ? What does He do ? inquireth 
every one of a new-comer to them. Much. Mighty 
calling, His. Never was greater lain on the shoulders 
of one born of woman. " Behold the Lamb of God, 
which taketh away the sin of the world," John 1 : 
29. 



PLEAS TO THE UNSAVED. 87 

This is a bit of testimony toward identification 
from a reliable witness. Similar to testimony in some 
of our courts. A murder is committed. The one 
heart of the community throbs with excitement. A 
man is captured. One who had a glimpse of the 
fearful deed and its executor comes before the anx- 
ious crowd ; all listen with bated breath for the 
weighty words, " That is He." So of John, who 
came "to bear witness ; " Jordan's banks is the wit- 
ness' stand; all the men of Judea, judge and jury. 
It is noised about that a miraculous personage is in 
the land. One of dignified step approacheth. " Be- 
hold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of 
the world." " This is He," saith John, the heaven- 
summoned witness. 

This is an exhortation, as well, for you to look in 
the right direction for power to rid yourselves of the 
burden of sin, " Salvation is of the Lord." You are 
well aware how sin came into the world, not so much 
matter how, alas! it is here — to get it out is the 
question of mighty concern. It is well to find out 
all about how a building took fire, but be sure to 
make an effort to extinguish it first. Do not stop to 
dispute about it now ; some precious lives sleep in ad- 
jacent places. Work mightily ; the All-seeing eye 
will acquaint you of the cause more distinctly when 
the fierce flames are subdued, and peace and order are 
restored, and your fevered brain has become at rest. 

"Taketh away the sin of the world," — words of 
mighty import are they. A man is overboard ; all 
the doctors of law and divinity and philosophical crit- 
ics gather together in His sight to solve the mystery 
of how he could have got there ; and the opportunity 
of saving is lost. Down with the lifeboat from the 



88 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

rusty davits ! it is fearful enough to know a soul is in 
danger. Presence of mind is wanted here. 

Abel's typical lamb had been slain constantly many 
long years, but the Lamb so long pointed at by faith 
"in due time" appeared, and was slain to take away 
that forever which had continually come up before 
them each year — Sin. No wonder "a multitude of 
the heavenly host" were sympathetically drawn from 
Heaven as escort on this sublime occasion ; no won- 
der there yet is *' joy in Heaven over one sinner that 
repenteth." It is no simple circumstance. Heaven 
throbs from center to circumference with filial ecstacy 
on the occasion of sin being lifted from the shoulders 
of one of Adam's sons. 

It is not a simple thing to take a huge spot of indel- 
ible character from delicate fabrics; it is a graver 
thing to take the awful spot of sin out of us, leaving 
us, though crimson, as white as wool. Mankind have 
fruitlessly tried to do it themselves for many years, 
and have resolved again and again that no such spot 
is there, yet second thought reveals the painful fact. 
"And which of you, with taking thought, can add to 
his stature one cubit?" The experiment of taking 
the color from the Ethiopian's skin has never been 
tried, perhaps, yet it may be as successfully accom- 
plished as taking sin from the world by human hands 
only. " Without Me ye can do nothing," says Christ. 

A mighty scourge was among the Israelites, and 
what was the remedy? A brazen serpent is lifted 
upon a pole ; belief enough to look icp at it was 
required. A terrible scourge is among us, and what 
is the remedy ? "As Moses lifted up the serpent in 
the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted 
up." "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will 



WORDS WITH THE UNSAVED. 89 

draw all men unto Me." The sympathetic drawing 
continues still. Some have been drawn completely 
to Him ; others " will not come unto Him that they 
might have life." Look at Him by faith's inspiring 
eye, ye weary and heaVy laden; look and live. "Ac- 
cording to thy faith, be it unto thee." 

The Lamb of God has been slain ; Adamic sin is 
taken away; "justification of life" occurs to every 
soul; every person stands on their feet from the 
grave in which Adam placed them irrespective of 
their belief in '* the second Adam " as fully as they 
were lain there irrespective of their belief or repre- 
sentation in the first Adam. So far is Universalism 
true ; yet a belief in the second Adam — Christ — 
alone insures immortal life beyond this waking resur- 
rection to natural life. Of mighty value, then, is this 
belief. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou 
shalt be saved." " This is the work of God, that ye 
believe on Him whom He hath sent." 

" Hallelujah ! what a Savior." 



" WHAT SHALL I DO WITH JESUS ? " 

Thus asked Pilate, chief among the people. Two 
men were in his custody: one a murderer, the other, 
one in whom he " found no fault." It was feast 
time ; he must release one unto them ; they clamor 
for Barabbas. Pilate alone was favorably disposed 
toward Jesus, not to say perhaps he inwardly loved 
Him. And to crown all, his wife — and wives have 
influence, especially with rulers — beseeches him to 
"have nothing to do with that just man." But they 



90 CBUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

call loud and unceasingly for Barabbas. " What shall 
I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? " answers 
this much-distressed man of state. "Away with him," 
they cry. Never before had this ruler been so exer- 
cised in mind about Jesus. He had heard of Him ; 
might have heard Him preach some of Flis wayside 
sermons, or have seen the lame leap at His word. In 
a word, he knew Him favorably, privately ; but to 
make a public decision he was now called upon. On 
the surface, its results seemed to involve only the 
present life or death of Jesus, but who knows that it 
did not involve the future life or death of Pilate ? 
Do not different circumstances have to be emj)loyed 
to rein up various persons to a decision as to how 
they regard Jesus ? This seems to me to be Pilate's 
critical call to discipleship. Other people had decided 
what to do with Jesus long ago. 

Peter, the unlettered fisherman, had in a less pub- 
lic way — in a quiet way — declared himself com- 
mitted for Jesus. But the confession, pro or con, 
must be as public as the daily life of those who make 
it. So these public men were having their day. The 
chief priests and elders were now, without scruple, 
telling what they thought of Him by calling for His 
crucifixion and the release of a murderer in his stead. 
But Pilate was not so clear about disposing of Jesus ; 
yet the awful crisis had come to decide. Here the 
trying ordeal of bearing the cross is clearly shown. 
Pilate,- like many others, disposed of Him in a half- 
hearted way. He catered to the wishes of the peo- 
ple that he might retain place and power. He says, 
" I find no fault in Him," yet he scourges Him to 
please the people and retain their confidence. Then 
he washes his hands and declares himself "innocent 



TO THE UNREGENERATE. 91 

of the blood of this just man. See ye to it/' What 
an exhibition of duplicity ! What an exhortation to 
us to stand fully for Jesus ! 

What disposal have you made of Jesus, reader ? 
It will not be enough to simply say, " I find no fault 
in Him." It is a grave decision that you will have to 
make, if you have not made it — more grave for you 
than for Jesus. He can get alone much better with- 
out you than you can without Him. Do not try to 
" serve two masters," as did Pilate, but stand up 
boldly for Jesus every time, never minding the re- 
sults. If it costs you your position here you will get 
a much better one there^ when you have overcome 
and sat down with Him on His throne. When you 
have thus decided, you will have no bloody hands to 
wash to appear innocent to men, for you will have 
been washed internally to not only appear, but to he 
innocent to God, And when this decision is fully 
made, in after years, as you are tempted to go into 
this proceeding or that, which is questionable, let this 
question of Pilate always ring in your ears, " What 
shall I do with Jesus ? " That is, shall I go and leave 
Jesus behind, or shall I keep out of it and have Him 
with me ? knowing that you cannot have the pres- 
ence of Jesus in the way of doing evil. 



«YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN." 

A RELIGIOUS education will not suffice to fit us to 
inherit the kingdom of God, though that is very de- 
sirable. Religious information is good. So is a cart 
good and necessary ; but it is not intended to go 



92 CRUMBS OF THE BKEAD OF LIFE. 

before the horse. An interest in the discussion of 
theological dogmas will not be enough to constitute 
us members of God's royal, holy family, partakers in 
His kingly glory. Supposing a ragged urchin should 
take an interest in a rich man, and borrow all the 
books he could think of to try to educate himself 
into his family, he would not get in until the rich 
man saw some trait in him which he admired, and 
took compassion on his poverty, and adopted him. 
You cannot be " heirs of God and joint heirs with 
Jesus Christ" by any system of education; you must 
be adopted into the family of God — "ye must be 
born again." The judgment will discover many 
learned sinners, and reveal the fact that some of 
God's own true children are somewhat illiterate. 

There is no end to the ingenious devices for trying 
to climb up some other way, instead of coming in by 
the door — God's way. Men will pay tithes of mint, 
anise and cummin, and omit the weightier matters of 
the law, judgment, mercy and faith, and the fear and 
love of God. A disobedient boy will do anything 
ander heaven but the very thing his father wants him 
to do. Children of large growth are like-minded. 
Jesus says, "I am the way," but every one is inclined 
to go to his own way, and the mass stubbornly per- 
sist in doing so. 

What kind of an order of things would it be if 
every man undertook to redeem his own money ? if 
instead of coming in by the door of the bank of 
redemption he should climb up in some other way, 
and help himself ? He would be accounted a thief 
and a robber, and be dealt with accordingly. So he 
will be reckoned a thief and a robber who tries to 
steal his redemption out of Christ, by trying to climb 



TO THE UNREGENJJRATE. 93 

up some other way, than by this heart change which 
Christ produces in those who desire it. 

Lots of infidels are warming their toes at the divine 
radiator. They please themselves with the notion 
that praising part of the morality of Christ's teach- 
ing will carry them through all right, while they 
crack jokes at Christians and scoff at Christianity as 
a whole, and especially at its teaching of faith in the 
atoning death of Christ, and a new heart. If they 
do not like God's system for the imparting of moral 
or spiritual warmth and comfort, let them try the 
frigid zones, where this piping has not yet been car- 
ried. They will find their plan does not succeed in 
fitting people for the kingdom of God. Jesus said : 
" Ye must be born from above," and it proves to be 
a fact in spite of scoffing. Several dozen of them 
can be spared from many communities, and leave no 
considerable vacuum in intellectuality behind. 

Some people get the queer notion on the other ex- 
treme, that there is nothing to be learned after a 
man has surrendered to God, laid down the arms of 
his rebellion at the cross of Christ, accepted God's 
provision in Jesus Christ for his redemption, and 
given himself to His service. They seem to think 
that Christ and education are at sword's points, and 
that the only way to " enjoy religion " is to bottle 
themselves up in ignorance ; that ignorance and su- 
perstition are the parents of devotion. That may be 
true of devotion to Juggernaut or Romanism ; but 
education, enlightenment, and all good things have 
followed in the wake of Christianity. True, bad 
things have also followed. Mean fish will follow a 
boat for the crumbs that are thrown overboard. 
There is, for all that, no better way to lay the foun- 



94 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE, 

elation to a life of knowledge and usefulness than to 
begin right-end foremost, and give the heart to 
Christ — yield homage to the King of kings. Men 
do not lay masonry on top of a pile of shingles and 
clapboards. Other foundation can no man lay than 
that which is laid in Jesus Christ. Build on the 
foundation. " Seek first the kingdom of God and 
His righteousness, and all these things shall be added 
unto you." " Repent ye therefore, and be converted, 
that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of 
refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." 
Acts 3: 19. "Repent, and be baptized every one of 
you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of 
sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." 
Acts 2 : 38. 



THE AXE AT THE ROOT. 

" Is it wicked to do this or that " ? is the oft-re- 
peated inquiry of those yet unregenerated in heart, 
who wish to drive a sharp bargain with God for their 
justification by justifying themselves and saving the 
half cent — saving to themselves certain indulgences 
and amusements which appear • to be harmless, and 
concerning which the Bible does not come out with a 
"Thou shalt not" against. That depends. Salva- 
tion through Jesus Christ is not a question of lop- 
ping off sundry branches, but a process of putting 
the axe at the root. If you had a cancer, would you 
be inquiring of your physician, to begin with: — "Is 
it wrong to be wearing about that crusted scab on 
top"? He would reply, " Wrong! You want that 
thing taken out by the root as soon as possible, or 



WORDS WITH SINNERS. 95 

you are a dead man or woman." Then when the 
operation was being performed, you would say, 
"Doctor, be sure you get it all." And after it was 
over you would be careful that your diet, regimen 
and conduct accorded with the physician's directions; 
and when you were in doubt in that matter, for lack 
of apparent fullness in his directions, you would give 
your health, instead of your indulgence, the benefit 
of the doubt. 

It is no use to advise people in regard to the can- 
cer of sin any other way than to have it out at once, 
unless they have concluded that they will not have it 
out ; in that case, when they inquire of you what it 
would be best to abstain from, you can say : — 
" Friend, you haven't but a little time to live, and I 
advise you to enjoy it the best you can." 

A piece of iron in a furnace at a white heat is not 
to be judged by another piece in a snow-drift full of 
frost; its nature is changed. The man in Christ 
Jesus is not to be judged by the same rule as one 
who is out of Christ. " Christ is the end of the law 
for righteousness' sake to every one that believeth " ; 
such are " free from the law " ; " against such there 
is no law." Not so he who is out of Christ ; the law 
continues in force to him, and he must reap its re- 
sults. By faith the Christian has settled with Christ 
in forgiveness for the debt of sin, and is henceforth 
governed by him in the realm, or law, of love ; he 
wants to do just as Christ would have him do, and is 
eager to know His will. There is no other way to 
settle it excepting by forfeiture of life, which the 
transgressed law demands. 

What would appear very wicked for a man to do 
or say who had accepted the governor's pardon would 



96 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

not appear in one who would not accept his pardon ; 
one is amenable to the governor and the other to the 
law. 

A little more smut will not hurt a man who has 
worked a day in a coal pit; but that little girl just 
dressed up in white must be very careful what she 
runs up against. 

This is all the world some people will ever enjoy ; 
and if they will not have Christ, and enjoy it more 
than they can any other way, and have the promise 
of the next beside, then let them enjoy it in their 
own way, after due warning and entreaty. It is a 
poor way to make it comfortable for a dog whose tail 
must be cut off or die, by taking off an inch at a 
time. If some people want to make their lives mis- 
erable by being converted an inch at a time, whose 
fault is it ? Folks would not act that way in other 
matters. If you were to be executed by electricity 
you would say, " Turn on the power at onceP If 
you were to become a prince, you would ^ay, "I 
guess I will be one right off, instead of by degrees." 
If you were to bake biscuit to eat yourself^ you would 
put them into a hot oven instead of into a cold one, 
building a fire on top of the stove. Fire up the 
boiler, turn on the steam, and you need not employ a 
man to knock the icicles off the eaves of a building ; 
they will drop off. 

People who want to carry Christianity in one hand 
and worldliness in the other, are in doubt about many 
matters that a man can settle easy enough in his own 
mind who has given himself fully to Christ. 

Some man, half-wishing that he could chew and 
smoke tobacco, and be a Christian, wonders that the 



WORDS WITH SINNERS. 97 

Bible is not more outspoken against such things if it 
is wrong. 

The fact is, brother, most any fool can find that 
out from the book of Nature. To inform you that 
Nature cries out against it, it is only necessary to 
remind you of the struggle you had in silencing it. 
You have got nature and common sense in the slush 
on its' back by the throat now, but God's Word does 
not choke off so easily. The Bible is pre-eminently 
a book of grace, i.e.^ the New Testament. What- 
ever of Nature is introduced is to make that end ap- 
pear more prominent. 



LOOKING UNTO GOD. 

Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the 
earth : for I am God, and there is none else. Isa. 45 : 22. 

When the great controversy between God and 
man gets narrowed down so that a person is left 
alone face to face with his Creator, ready to 
come to His terms, there is some hope of his salva- 
tion. He is the arbiter of the situation. Settle- 
ment for that debt of sin of yours must be made 
with Him on His terms — His loving, merciful terms. 
How unwise people act about this. In temporal 
matters they will readily step up and settle with the 
proper tribunal, but about this question of eternal 
importance they will prevaricate and try every con- 
ceivable method but the right one to become justi- 
fied. They will justify themselves in their own eyes 
and in the eyes of men ; they will look at this one's 
faults and that one's failings ; and among all the mul- 
6 



98 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

titudes of idol-gods, which men have in vain bowed 
down to, there is none which ever had a stronger 
devotee than a man's ideal of what some Christian 
ought to be — an ideal which, after all, he conies not 
so near to living up to himself as the other fellow 
does. How many are worshipers of this kind of an 
idol? They do not make a business of visiting 
shrines or making pilgrimages to Mecca or Jerusa- 
lem, but wherever they go, their idol-god is before 
them ; and if you do not fall down before it you are 
as a heathen man and a publican, but they are " the 
elect ! " 

Say, friend, there will have to be a reduction in 
the crowd before you settle with God and find peace. 
There are always sinners enough who are anxious to 
throw stones at other sinners ; but when the man 
without sin is invited to throw the first stone, the 
crowd will be apt to diminish ; and if you want sal- 
vation enough to remain to the after meeting — face 
to face, alone with the Lord — you may receive the 
word of forgiveness and peace, and go on your way 
rejoicing, to sin no more. 

You will have to settle with God some day, jDrinci- 
pal and interest — " the uttermost farthing : " Why 
not now^ and get the big discount — aye, more, the 
forgiveness of the whole debt ? " But there are some 
things that I cannot reconcile." Well, you get rec- 
onciled to God yourself first, and the wonderful way 
that many other things will fall into line will be 
astonishing. *' Lord, and what shall this man do?" 
"What is that to thee, follow thou me." "Look 
unto me," saith God. Give Him your attention and 
you will not have so much time to see other folk's 
faults. The man who attends a drawinsj-school with 



WOEDS WITH SINNEKS. 99 

the expectation of making a picture worth looking at 
should keep his eye on the model! That is what 
that other fellow is doing ; and you sit and condemn 
his work because it is not perfect. Try it yourself, 
and let others see how you will get along. There are 
a great many things which seem easy enough to do 
while you look on and see somebody else do it, but 
when you take hold of the tools you may have more 
charity. What a crowd of critics the Lord has, and 
how few real workers ! Wonder if there will be 
a grand stand for critics to sit on coronation day? 
We prefer to help in the exercises, 

"Look unto Me and be saved." Not look and 
hope to be saved, but he saved ; saved from sin and 
its consequences. Salvation is the result of paying 
attention to God and letting other folks' faults, fail- 
ings, scandals, and the thousand things that would 
trouble you on every side, go to the four winds. 
God is our guide through this world's dangerous 
passes. He has promised to guide us with his eye ; 
not Deacon A's eye nor Elder B's eye. Mind Him 
then. " Put your foot there," He cries, as you tread 
the dangerous path of life. Eyes on Him ; attention 
to His word. " Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, 
and a light unto my path." 

"And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and 
to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you 
up, and to give you an inheritance among all them 
which are sanctified." Acts 20 : 32. 



100 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

THE LESSON OF EXPERIENCE. 

TuE unbelieving observer is apt to characterize the 
manifest peace and joy of the believer as something 
which he makes, as '• all imagination." Well, we all 
admit that imagination is the father of many chil- 
dren ; but they are comparatively weak, sickly, and 
short-lived. Speaking without figure, it is said to be 
recognized as a fact by medical and scientific men, 
that some persons can be worried into sickness and 
frightened to death solely through operating upon 
their imaginations. And thus we have the familiar 
statement that a large share of sickness is imagination. 

But all sickness is not imagination or manufac- 
tured, as every reader of this article may sorrowfully 
know by experience. If nine persons are making a 
great deal of noise and fuss through spleen, the tenth 
one, who has the toothache, or is doubled up with 
the colic from eating green apples and watermelons, 
does not like to hear it insinuated that he is " making 
it " or " imagining it." There are such conditions, 
therefore, as feigned sickness, real sickness, self-de- 
ception and self-knowledge concerning the body's 
health. 

The same is true of the soul — the spiritual in man. 
There is the hypocrite who knows he is making his 
religion for effect, and the honest saint who sings a 
joy and peace which he knows ; and there is the de- 
ceiver who simulates the agony of the conscience- 
stricken for base ends, and the really sin -sick soul, 
w^rithing in agony of mind, and longing to know the 
peace and joy in God which others manifest. Then 
there is the deceived one who goes to the priest — to 
man — to confess wrongs done to the Almighty; if 



PLEAS TO THE UNSAVED. 101 

he returns with joy we think it must be " imagined," 
for no man has power to forgive sins. But lastly, 
there is the one who " knows that he has passed from 
death unto life, because he loves the brethren " — 
folks he used to hate, and never could by nature have 
loved. He knows that he does not make the love 
that he feels toward them, nor simply imagine it. 
He feels a marvelous transformation of his character, 
so that his love is akin to that of God, who loves 
them that abuse Him. In fact, " the love of God is 
shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Spirit which is 
given unto him." God hath sent forth the Spirit in 
his heart, crying, "Abba, Father." It cries itself ; it 
is not made nor imagined. It is just as real a con- 
dition of mind as any other that exists. The young 
in experience are mistaken in this respect, that they 
think that they can make any unbeliever see just 
what they see and know what they know. True, 
they have an influence in this direction ; but the un- 
believing can not be made to se^ and know the joys 
of salvation till they have experienced them some- 
what. No one knows honey is sweet till he tastes it. 
No one can know the sweet experience of the peace 
of a pardoned state till he has felt the weight of 
guilt, and made overtures to the offended, and re- 
ceived the word of reconciliation. 

Now the challenge of the church is worth some- 
thing to me as substantiating the truthfulness of 
Christianity. What is it ? It is " come and see." 
It is an invitation to experience what she experi- 
ences. She unselfishly invites all to the bounteous 
repast. She does it boldly, not fearing that they 
who taste, really taste, of the joys of salvation once, 
will ever turn away in disgust. Now this constant 



102 CRUMBS OF THE BEE AD OF LIFE. 

and bold invitation to all to experience what she 
experiences proves to me that there is something 
more to it than humbug. But here we are met by- 
some who have started in the divine way, saying that 
they have experienced it, and there is nothing to it. 
Well, there are pleasures in the manhood of physical 
life in walking about and admiring th6 beautiful, if 
an infant who can scarcely walk, but falls, and cries, 
and laughs, and anon kicks with colic, and hardly 
ever gets out of doors should say "I have experi- 
enced life and there is nothing in it." The testi- 
mony of those who have gone farther on — those 
who have experienced something more than baby- 
hood is more reliable. " Then shall we know if we 
follow on to know the Lord," says the prophet 
Hosea. 

But this experience will be tested. God intends 
that each believer shall know, if he will exercise 
patience, that his experience is not all imagination. 
So God will suffer us to fall into diverse tempta- 
tions " (trials) to accomplish the purpose. Hence, 
we should "count it all joy " to even thus find out 
that our religion is not a humbug, as we surely can 
by that means. Paul and Silas so found out in 
the strong inner jail at Philippi. With their backs 
bleeding from the cuts of a Roman scourge thirty- 
nine times applied in succession, and their feet fast 
in the stocks, and sitting on the edge of a board and 
singing the praises of G)d at midnight in a dungeon, 
if this was imagination, or make-believe religion, 
then I grant unto Paul and Silas the palm for the 
most vivid imagination or the cytest hypocrisy that 
I can conceive of. But this was the problem — 
" peace in believing and joy in the Holy Spirit " 



PLEAS TO THE UNSAVED, 103 

worked out. It was not their first opposition. They 
had been so constantly buffeted that, like the corn 
that has swayed to and fro with wind and storm, 
they had come to that massive strength of root and 
stalk that bears much rich fruit. They had come to 
glory in such trials of strength like veritable " ath- 
letes," save that they gloried in God's strength sup- 
plied to them instead o'f their own. Let us yearn to 
experience the deep things of God that we may be 
fully satisfied that there is a reality in Christianity. 



"LACKED YE ANYTHING?" 

Ais^B he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, 
and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing ? And they said, 
Kothing. Luke 22: 35. 

Here is the testimony of men who went forth 
bare-footed, bare-handed, and bare-pocketed in the 
service of the loved Master, trusting Him for tern- 
j9or6/^ needs, and they said that they lacked nothing; 
but what a sad picture in contrast we have today ! 
Here are church members without number, ministers 
included, who are surrounded with all the temporal 
comforts which this life affords, and yet their actions 
— their visits to the theater, to parties of pleasure, 
at games, at all resorts whither worldlings tend, is a 
standing testimony that they feel a lack in the service 
of Christ for fun and frolic. Like Lot's wife, they 
have made a faint start to escape doom, but " Oh ! 
there is so much that is attractive behind! Hark ! 
hear the music ! Oh, to be in Sodom tonight ! That 
party was to come off tonight ! One more look to 
see if there is really any prospect of the city's burn- 



104 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

ing. No ! I see no fire. I don't believe it will ever 
burn. These men who preach danger, and call us to 
be separate, are too impulsive in religious matters. 
Religion is all right. What is the matter with hav- 
ing religion in Sodom ? " 

Ah ! readers, *' Remember Lot's wife." Luke 17 : 
32. There was a large place in her heart for the 
pleasures of Sodom ; but little place for the joys of 
salvation, 

Christ is crowded out of many a heart today, 
as He was, in His infancy, from Bethlehem's inn. 
There is plenty of entertainment for worldiness, but 
no room for heavenly visitors. Are they not accept- 
able ? O yes, but there is no room. To make room 
I shall have to put something or somebody else out, 
and I can not do that. By and by, " when I have a 
convenient season, I will call for thee." When 
the summer of life is over, and the songs of hilarity 
have ceased, and the wild oats are sown, I will think 
of these serious matters. 

Perhaps you will. But it is best to entertain Jesus 
when He calls; He may not come that way again. 
Better get as anxious as blind Bartimeus, and station 
yourself by the way Jesus is expected, and shout for 
Him, lest he should pass by and you be unsaved. 

He is a satisfying portion to those who have 
opened the door and let Him come in, and have 
supped with Him and ~He with them. What a guest 
is He ! Who cares what is going on outside, with 
Him at the soul's repast ? 

You used to go to the theater? you ask. Yes. 
Used to dance? Yes, and everything else from 
which worldlings draw comfort. Do you do these 
things now? No. Why not? Jesus is my all. Do 



PLEAS TO THE UNSAVED. 105 

I miss anything? Nothing. How can I when my 
soul is full? Ah! but here is a delicious piece of 
worldly honeycomb. I do not want it, I tell you ; 
my soul is full ; the thoughts of it make me sick 
— I loath it. 

I do not understand it, you say. Then come, — O 
come ! and taste, and see that the Lord is good. 
Come as you are, without one plea, and find that His 
mercy endure th forever. And when pardoned and 
cleansed, put your soul into this work, and you will 
find that it pays a hundred fold in this life. 

Any min^ must be worked to yield its richness. 
Are you lean, barren, and about to abandon further 
search ? Sink the shaft into a richer vein," brother. 
Get the pick of prayer, and roll over that burden- 
some lump off your heart on to the Burden-bearer, 
and find the rich nagget underneath. Go to work in 
Christ's vineyard, ye lazy drones. Why stand ye all 
the day idle ? The Lord does not want a lot of car- 
casses in His service, with their hearts elsewhere. 
No, He wants a man with a soul in him, in His ser- 
vice. Soul, body and spirit must be sanctified to 
God's use to reap a reward for self, and souls for 
Him. Hitch in the whole team and go on with 
banner and song, bound to find satisfaction and sal- 
vation, and you will find it. " I will be found of 
them that seek Me with the whole heart," saith the 
Lord. That father who playfully hides from his boy, 
" will be found of him," when he sees that his heart 
is after him, and he goes here and there, and is 
almost ready to give up, when he rushes out and 
takes him in his arms. 

There is no one so miserable in himself and help- 
less to others as that funeral-visaged person, who 
5* 



106 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

seems to be partly sick of self and the world, but 
who has never been filled up with divine things. O, 
come to the Lord's bounty. "Wherefore do ye spend 
money for that which is not bread? and your labor 
for that which satisfieth not ? hearken diligently unto 
me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul 
delight itself in fatness." Isa. 55 : 2. 



COMMON THINGS. 

There would many more go in for salvation if it 
was not so common. If there were reserved seats 
in glory which these high-toned people could pur- 
chase at a high price, or earn with their own smart- 
ness, they would have them. This salvation for the 
helpless will do for cranks, cripples, aiid consump- 
tives ; but they are smart enough, they think, to 
merit divine favor. They are uncommonly hand- 
some, able, smart and good, therefore they cannot be 
classed with that trash that cohort down at that in- 
significant chapel, or common hall. Born with silver 
spoons in their mouths, clad in purple and fine linen, 
and faring sumptuously every day, it seems heart- 
rending to think they have to breathe the same air, 
and bear the same sunshine that other people do. 

Now this is all a matter of taste, of local origin 
and interest. You wash an Esquimaux's face, and 
the rest will laugh at him because it is not considered 
high-toned to have a clean face in that particular lo- 
cality. It is considered to be the thing in some places 
to wear a huge needle stuck through the middle par- 
tition of the nose, and projecting out lengthily on 



WORDS WITH THE UNSAVED. 107 

either side ; in other places this is rejected, and they 
are worn in the ears and on the fingers in various 
devices. In some places they are called savages who 
put red paint on their faces ; in other localities they 
are the elite because the paint is ground finer, and of 
a better quality, and perhaps put on with more skill. 

Now it happens that God, the Creator of all, has 
some ideas which He has revealed in His Word, and 
it is best to go to headquarters for His general opin- 
ion, and save catering to diverse human notions. 
His thoughts are not our thoughts, nor His ways our 
ways. He declares that He " has made of one blood 
all nations to dwell on the face of the whole earth." 
And I do not suppose that by taking a drop of blood 
from a negro, and another from an Irishman, and 
putting them under a microscope, you could tell one 
from the other. He says also that "the rich and 
poor meet together, and the Lord is the maker of 
them all " ; i.e.^ the rich and poor used to meet to- 
gether when they had more Christianity and less 
worldliness; but things have changed, and the rich 
meet by themselves now. And the Lord made the 
rich, and the poor made themselves such. 

After all, there is but one salvation, and that is the 
common one, of which Jude writes, which, when we 
get it, makes us feel like " contending for the faith 
once delivered to the saints." If the Lord should 
save people to suit themselves, the world to come 
would be as worthless as the Indian's canoe, which 
was to be made to suit everybody. The common 
people heard Christ gladly ; first, because He spoke 
that which common people could comprehend ; and 
second, something which would benefit them. There 
is no caste to real piety, though there is in the artifi- 



108 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

cial kind. God has made salvation as free as water, 
and as easy to obtain, which the poor and simple are 
glad of; and if. the wise and prudent obtain it, it is 
high time they came down from aloft and went be- 
low, for God has " hid " it down in the hold. 

Once saved with ''the common salvation," rooted 
" in the common faith," there will probably no temp- 
tation overtake you "but such as is common to man : 
but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be 
tempted above that ye are able; but will with the 
temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may 
be able to bear it. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, 
flee from idolatry." 1 Cor. 10 : 18, 14. 



TRESPASSES. 

Ever since the divine law of God was proclaimed 
to us — a people by nature in darkness — its marvel- 
ous light has caused our offences to appear in griev- 
ous ways and of the most aggravated types. Through 
ages this great debt stood a mountain against the 
race, defiant, clamoring for satisfaction, calling for 
the only legal tender at its bar — blood — and the 
recreant race kept paying, paying ; but, oh, the debt ! 
No smaller ; barely the interest. Dark indeed would 
have been the prospect but for a promise from the 
merciful Creditor ! A promise, that was all. A pe- 
culiar promise, indeed; a promise that once believed, 
enters largely into the account — in fact, cancels the 
debt to each individual believer. Many believed, and 
"it was accounted unto th(3m for righteousness"; 
others lost all by unbelief. 



WORDS WITH SINNERS, 109 

Well, thus the plan went on for many years. Still 
to a race the debt remained. Was God " slack con- 
cerning His promise, as some men count slackness " ? 
Was the thing promised ever to come ? Was the 
promised relief tardy? No, thank God; for when 
we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died 
for the ungodly." Now the faithful Promiser takes 
up the note. No more credit on that. No more 
righteousness to be " accounted " for, believing that 
promise. 

Now what? Is mercy cut off? No. No wonder 
the angels came to sing, "On earth peace, and good 
will to men." Now there is no credit for believing 
the promise, but, thank God, there is in believing in 
the very thing promised. But in God's plan He has 
made it extremely crossing and humiliating to nature 
to do so. Now a conflict. But to one sufficiently 
humble it is an easy way to pay the old debt — an 
open door, a balm in Gilead, a yoke easy to bear, a 
rest to the heavy laden. 

Still an indimdual way. "He that believeth." 
" For if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in 
your sins." He did not come to spread out pardon 
from this debt to a race, or to offer universal pardon 
without universal belief in Him. Have you believed 
sufficiently to save the soul, reader? It cast people 
out of the synagogue in those days to openly avow 
belief in Him (and it was difficult to believe in the 
heart without confessing), but each one that did it 
got salvation, and those who did not got no promise 
of it. How is with you, reader ; do you expect to 
sail into port in the " wake " of the gospel ship ? 
The parents of the blind boy steered clear of salva- 
tion when they put the confession of Christ off on to 



110 CHUMBS OF THE BREAD OP LIFE. 

the boy — '' he is of age, ask him " ; and they did ask 
him, and he declared it to the glory of God. 

Some expect to pay this debt that God has scored 
against them themselves ; not that the blood of 
Christ is not sufficient, but it seems more honorable, 
and something creditable to think of, that they did 
something worthy of honorable mention. And so 
they will say in the judgment, *' Have we not in Thy 
name done many wonderful works ? " But He never 
got acquainted with them, as strange as it may seem 
to them. Some expect to merit something for what 
they suffer, as though Christ did not suffer " once for 
all, the just for the unjust." Paul says, " If we suffer 
with Him, we shall also reign with Him." True, but 
our suffering did not give us the privilege. We 
simply believed and confessed, and if Christ had 
taken us out of the world we should not have had 
any suffering ; but, then. He did not, hence the suf- 
fering. The thief suffered for his own transgression 
of the law of the land, but got salvation in Christ, 
and died with no more suffering than his brother 
thief, but a thousand times better off. But we could 
not vouch for his earthly happiness, if after that con- 
fession they had concluded to let him down for a 
few years. 

We cannot, of ourselves, pay for stealing a single 
penny by all we can do. We may trim up the tree 
as much as we have a mind to ; the axe must go to 
the root. Will He not " reward according to our 
works " ? Yes, according to our works, when backed 
up by the right faith. That is the way the faith is 
shown (according to James), by works ; but we 
have got to have the faith any way, because we are 



WORDS WITH SINNERS. Ill 

justified by that ; that is the door which we must 
enter, or else we are thieves and robbers. 

Some are very circumspect on Sunday ; have some 
spiritual gnats which they are spending their lives in 
swallowing, while the Devil's camels are going in two 
abreast. Others brag on their word, their honesty. 
Others give to the poor, especially when it will be 
heard of. Somebody rolled a barrel of flour into 
Widow So-and-so's, and expects to sit down with 
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of Heaven 
for that. But it is "not of works, lest any man 
should boast '* ; but " by grace are ye saved, througb 
faith " ; in fact, it is by confessing the truth as it is 
in Jesus ; in taking the cross and following after 
Him. 



PURE RELIGION. 

This is an age of adulteration. And as with about 
everything else, so with religion — there are all kinds 
in circulation. But the adulterated kind occupies 
the most prominent place ia the market. Still, there 
is a pure article stowed away in an unobserved spot, 
which you can have by calling for and paying for it. 

This is a cheap age as well as an age of adultera- 
tion. It is unfair to blame a dealer for what the con- 
sumer is guilty of. When the consumer cries for 
cheapness, and says he will not pay what the pure 
article costs, he invites adulteration. The people are 
to be blamed as well as the clergy for perverting 
their tastes to such an extent as to be tolerably well 
satisfied with a poor article, when there is a pure 
one to be had. 



112 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

The exi^ense which we refer to here is not that of 
a pecuniary kind, for false religion has always cost 
the most money ; but it is that cutting expense of 
cross-bearing on account of the unpopularity of pure 
religion. It is buying in the sense of Isa. 55 : 1. 
Now, as with most everything else, so with religion 
— we shall find that the best, and therefore the most 
expensive here^ will prove the cheapest in the end. 
There are some getting along very inexpensively 
now in behalf of Christ and His Word — in cross- 
bearing — for whom my soul trembles when I think 
of the awful expense that they must meet when the 
summons sounds to gather us at the bar of God. 
"How shall we stand in the judgment?" 

" But," you say, " how shall I know when I get 
the pure article, and where to get it, there is so much 
that is adulterated ? " The Word tells you what it 
is so far as it can be described on the outside wrap- 
per ; but you must "taste" it to produce satisfac- 
tion ; you must experience it. " Pure religion and 
undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit 
the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to 
keep himself unspotted from the world." James 1 : 
27. Perhaps it may be congenial to your nature " to 
visit the fatherless and widows," and easy enough to 
do betimes ; — after the " affliction " is passed ; but to 
" keep unspotted from the world," you will find, re- 
quires a strict attention to business. And likely as 
not this process will make you one of the " peculiar 
people " spoken of in Titus 2 : 14, and 1 Peter 2 : 9, 
some of whom perhaps you have seen before now. 

Furthermore, I would observe, that if you want 
the regular, old-fashioned religion of power, looh for 
it in the plain wrapper^ for the adulterated article is 



WORDS WITH SINKERS. 113 

almost always jDut up in a showy way, and attrac- 
tively labeled, whether it is merchandise or piety, 
and it may be regularly stamped from the theological 
seminary where it was made, and indorsed by d.d.'s. 
But it lacks " the power thereof " even if it is gotten 
up in a splendid " form of godliness." Such religion, 
when experienced, will not produce the proper effect 
that is needed ; and those who want to be cured of 
sin will not be satisfied with it. " The law of the 
Lord is perfect, converting the soul." Tliat will yet 
do the work when applied, and it needs no puffs, nor 
outside attractions, nor apologies. 

Again, we would suggest that the life and conduct 
of those who recommend an article, and the way it is 
done, shows something of the worth of what they 
are recommending. If some are well fed, sleek, fat 
and happy, and receiving a large salary for telling 
their story, they may have a self-end in the matter, 
and you may well feel a little shy about the worth of 
the thing they represent; but when you consider 
that two men who once had good worldly prospects 
before them, yet gave all for Christ, and on His ac- 
count were lashed on their bare backs till the blood 
flowed freely, and were cast into prison, and their 
feet made fast in the stocks, and twelve o'clock at 
night, sitting on the edge of a board, they still rec- 
ommend to others to get the same article for which 
they had suffered all this, you may justly conclude it 
was nothing less than the pure article. 

Well, get this kind which Paul and Silas had. 
There is some of it around yet, and if you look sharp 
and low enough, you may see it. 

Finally, do not look at this one or that one, or to 
any external evidences for the truthfulness of reli- 



114 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

gion, so much as you do at what God is doing in your 
own heart. Knoxo the Lord for yourself. Maybe 
the whole world will go to wreck and ruin, and you 
alone will escape to tell the story of your deliverance 
to the ransomed hosts gathered from every age and 
clime in the paradise of God. 



LIVING ON CHRISTIAN'S FAULTS. 

I HAVE seen a lank-looking dog come into my back 
gate and try to make a meal out of the swill tub, and if 
you should stop and give him a looh of reproof, that 
dog had sense of honor enough left to realize some- 
thing of the meanness of the business he was in, and 
would droj) his eyes, ears and tail, and leave under a 
burden of shame. But I have seen what they call 
men with apparently less, noble traits. They will 
make a satisfactory meal from the church garbage 
tub, and when reproved they stick to it, and hold up 
their heads like a giraffe. They are full to the necks 
with this swill, and if you set before them the savory 
gospel feast, they will vomit it into your face. They 
are swine who would rather root over mud and 
trample pearls under foot. 

'* He that is not for me, is against me." This is a 
saying that Christ uttered, and you may set it down 
in your note-book as true every time. See how 
pleased that man is in the downfall of that one who 
was once a church member. Of course he is ; he 
belongs to Satan, and Satan has been planning and 
plotting that job, trying to carry it out for a long 
time, and when the job is completed there is music 



WORDS WITH SINNERS. 115 

throughout Satan's kingdom. Well, make the most 
of it ; your hurrahs are of short duration, and will 
be pitched to another tune ere long. 

Now turn the picture. See how sad that man 
looks — see that redness and moisture gather in his 
eye — when that man's downfall is referred to. 
What is the difference ? Why, his brother is down 
there^ that is all. They were made nigh by the blood 
of Christ, and were no more aliens and foreigners 
from the commonwealth of Israel ; they belonged to 
the same church, and partook from the same ta- 
ble, the same body and blood of Christ. And yet 
there are Judases in the camp among the disciples, 
who will go through all the motions of a veritable 
saint, even to dipping their fingers in the commun- 
ion bowl, who were devils from the beginning, and 
all through ; and nobody but the Devil and his imps 
feel bad when they fall headlong, and let their 
bowels gush out. But a good man is liable to fall or 
be " overtaken in a fault " ; and while the Devil and 
his followers hold jubilee over it, God's people are 
instructed and expected to stoop down and lift him 
up — " restore such an one in the spirit of meekness, 
considering thyself lest ye also be tempted." 

Of course the church of Christ is encumbered with 
backsliders, and there are faults among Christians; 
there always were, and always will be while the world 
stands, no matter how much holiness and sanctifica- 
tion is preached. There never was a battery in the 
world but what carried a spare wheel strapped on 
behind to be used in case of a break down, and they 
sometimes occur in a battle. And there never was a 
church in the world but what there was somebody in 
it who broke down in God's service and went to 



116 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

pieces ; but God never lacked for a spare wheel to 
put on, so that the car of salvation went on while 
we lament the fall. 

God has never allowed the Devil such a harvest 
but what He kept enough for seed, and never lacked 
material from which to raise up seed unto Abra- 
ham. His house will be filled — " he shall see the 
travail of his soul and be satisfied." There will 
be no vacant chairs around His table in His kingr- 
dom ; they will be filled by somebody. " Whosoever 
will." It does not make any difference who, but it 
does what, " God is no respecter of persons," but 
He is of characters. 

Will you be one, reader? Then cease pointing the 
finger of scorn at the faults of others. Some will 
say, "I do not pretend to do any better," just as 
though that fact would excuse them. But it will not. 
You will be sorely reckoned with at the bar of God 
for trampling under foot the blood of the Son of God 
and despising the spirit of grace. Simply " neglect- 
ing so great a salvation " brings on eternal destruc- 
tion. Only neglect^ that is all. God does not want 
pretenders in the field, but good soldiers who will 
endure hardness, suffer with Him, and reign with 
Him by and by. 

" There are black sheep in every flock," and those 
who flock to the house of God are no exception. If 
some of the Devil's flock did not get astray from his 
fold, and go to church, God's people would have no 
material to work on ; and it sometimes occurs that 
some of this raw material is held up by would-be- 
critics as samples of finished work, but sensible peo- 
ple will continue to judge for themselves. Even the 
Devil himself has got those in his flock that he must 



WORDS WITH SINNERS. 117 

be ashamed of if he has any sense of honor ; and we 
think he has, if some of his followers have not. 
There are privates in most all armies that will do 
things that the general is ashamed of. There is a 
*'code of honor" in every fight, and the Devil has 
found that he succeeds better to mix in a little in his. 
And he must not be a little chagrined to hear a 
young man make a great deal of display in making 
fun of Christians, and condemning them by whole- 
sale, when his own good mother is one ; or hear an 
elderly man condemn them all in a lump, when his 
estimable wife — now dead — was one. 

"People who live in glass houses should not throw 
stones," is an old adage worth remembering ; and we 
should always remember, too, that we are the ser- 
vants of whom we yield ourselves servants to obey, 
and should keep posted on the movements of the 
general, *' follow the leader," know our own men 
when we go out sharpshooting, and not kill a brother, 
or wound a wife and mother. 



BURIED CONSCIENCES. 

The stomach is the subject of great abuse, but you 
cannot impose upon it as you can your conscience. 
How heroically it will resist the first advances of to- 
bacco into even the vestibule — the mouth, not to 
mention attempting to enter itself! The writer 
knows. To be sure the stomach will stand much 
offence, but there is a point which you cannot pass 
without an upheaval. But men will throw their con- 
sciences overboard. Then comes the struggle for 



118 CnUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

life. Now down out of sight and silent ; then up, as 
a drowning man with arms extended, shouting for 
life, for help, grabbing at passing wreck until finally 
it sinks into oblivion — drowned. Now sin on board 
can have undisturbed dominion until the body shares 
the same fate — death. 

What a mistaken man that is, or a brute, who will 
get up from his disturbed slumbers at dead of night, 
and shoot his faithful dog, who is simply giving him 
the warning bark of approaching danger ! But men 
will do that very thing to that faithful monitor inside, 
only it is harder to kill than the dog ; but a continual 
clubbing wUl do it. Yet how persistently it clings to 
life even after being seared with a hot iron, and cal- 
loused by continual contact with evil. It has been 
left for dead many times, but has revived, crawled 
home and recovered. Yet it can be silenced and 
locked in death so that nothing but the quickening 
power of God can bring it to life. You might as 
well drop peppermint on a grave, thinking to bring 
the dead body to life, as to undertake to convert a 
man from the death of trespasses and sins with hu- 
man potencies. But the quickening power of the 
Holy Spirit will awaken such to their awful condition 
and responsiblities, and bring a new opportunity for 
life to their embrace. 

Let us take a walk in the cemetery of buried con- 
sciences — buried alive — and plant slabs with the 
cause of death on them. Here is a newly made 
grave. Put this slab here — cause of death : — em- 
bezzlement, commenced with trivial amounts, and 
increased the dose unto strangulation. Another 
newly-made mound. A minister is here. He de- 
parted from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits 



"WORDS WITH SINNERS. 119 

and doctrines of Devils ; speaking lies in hypocrisy. 
He fixed his conscience that way. Many graves of 
that sort are made nowadays. 1 Tim. 4 : 1, 2. Here 
is another. Lust killed him. He got past feeling, 
and gave himself over unto lasciviousness to work all 
uncleanness with greediness. Eph. 4 : 19. Here are 
a lot of graves that require a lot of slabs bearing the 
same legend, viz. : — Chose darkness rather than 
light, because their deeds were evil. Persisted in 
fighting the Holy Spirit away from- them through 
many revival services, until at last it concluded to 
stay away. 

Can these consciences live ? O Lord, Thou know- 
est. We prophesy that they can and will when the 
quickening power of the Holy Spirit touches them, 
and may they embrace that opportunity. But here 
is one grave among many that a black slab must be 
put at. Here is the inscription : — " For it is impos- 
sible for those who were once enlightened, and have 
tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers 
of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good Word 
of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they 
shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance ; 
seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God 
afresh, and put His life to an open shame," Heb. 6 : 
4-6. "He that is unjust let him be unjust still." 
Sinned against the Holy Ghost. But it is gratifying 
to know that these are very scarce. " Grieve not the 
Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the 
day of redemption." Take good care of that fellow 
inside, brother, by paying attention to His voice in 
the day of small things, and He will serve you well 
farther on. 



120 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

ALL ARE INVITED. 

Not iinfrequently we meet an impenitent who, to 
all the inquiries or pleas we may make concerning his 
eternal welfare, will, with much nonchalance remark 
that God has not yet called or invited him to be a 
Christian ; referring to peculiar visits of the Holy 
Spirit in powerful conviction that others have had. 
To all such I wish to earnestly appeal, having been 
one of that class myself. Be careful not to deceive 
and cheat yourself out of eternal salvation in this 
way. You are already earnestly invited to partake of 
all the blessings that God has in store for all, prom- 
ised in His Word — the Bible — which is before you 
as an open book. Your salvation depends not so 
much upon how you feel as how you obey that 
Word. The work of God's Holy spirit is not exclu- 
sive of nor superior to that Bible. It is supplemen- 
tal. It is the Bible's witness ; your caution ; your 
warning. Its work bears a similar relation to the law 
of God as the sheriff or other arresting officer does 
to the law of the land. But you must remember 
that arrest most always precedes conviction. Has 
not your attention to God's broken law ever been 
arrested ? Have you not ever thought you ought to 
be a better man or woman, though you were cool and 
collected? If so, you have been arrested by the 
Holy Spirit, who only arrests you that you maybe 
convicted and pardoned, and you have broken away 
from the officer of God's mercy. Do not mistake 
conviction for arrest, nor vice versa. 

Instead of slighting the offers of God's mercy, you 
should crave them. " Oh," you say, " I have not been 
so much as arrested by the Spirit of God." Well, 



WORDS WITH SINNERS. 121 

you are not the first criminal that has escaped justice 
and is at large, yet a keen detective is on your track. 
God's spirit is after you not to destroy, but to save 
you. Remember that. If you manage to evade it 
now, that will not clear you from justice that is sure 
to reach you in the future. 

Supposing you had broken the law of the land, for 
which there was a capital penalty, and you are under 
its sentence. You say, " 1 cannot be hung, for I 
never was called or invited to keep the law." Would 
that be sufficient ex;cuse with an open law before 
you? We have never heard of a mitigation of sen- 
tence on that account. Well, there is the open law of 
God — the Bible — before you. You seldom, if ever, 
look into it. You are coming up to the judgment. 
That Bible will face you there ; it will judge you. 
Had you not better inquire into its pages ? There is 
a strict law there. You have broken it ; but right at 
the end of it is a conditional pardon offered you 
through Jesus Christ. Is not that the height of 
mercy ? Will you accept ? 

More than that, the Spirit of God is busy every- 
where impressing everybody to accept it. Doubtless 
it has impressed you ; — wonderful if not — to its 
pleas you have turned a deaf ear. If not, you can 
read and you can hear. Why have you not acted 
up to these responsibilities? Unless you have, you 
are a condemned man. The fact is, the Bible gives 
you an open invitation, but you " will not come unto 
God that you might have life." Depend upon it, 
that Word will see you again at the last day. The 
Spirit will only urge you to obey that same book. Is 
it necessary to wait to be urged? Begin the inquiry 

now. The enemy of all righteousness delights to 
6 



122 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

represent to you that conversion is not tho result of 
any personal effort of yours ; that the Spirit comes 
down when it gets ready and takes you, as an eagle 
swoops down from its dizzy height and takes its inno- 
cent prey, and places you within the sacred circle of 
God and the angels, never more to be disturbed. 
" Be not deceived : God is not mocked : for what- 
soever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Wait 
not for special invitations which the Devil says you 
must have. His word to the indifferent is, never ; to 
those who are a little interested, wait ; wait until you 
feel different. How dangerous! Wait not either 
for friends. A Friend worth more than all is at 
the door. " Rise, the Master calleth thee." God's 
grace meets your efforts. ''And the Spirit and the 
bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say. 
Come. And let him that is athirst come. And who- 
soever will, let him take the water of life freely." 
Rev. 22 : 17. 



UNIVERSAL SALVATION. 

Will all men be finally saved? "God is love " (1 
John 4 : 8), and " there is no respect of persons with 
God." Rom. 2 : 11. Also "He maketh His sun to 
rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on 
the just and on the unjust." Matt. 5 : 45. Paul 
writes to Timothy (1 Tim. 2 : 4) that God " will have 
all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge 
of the truth " ; and that Christ " gave Himself a ran- 
som for all, to be testified in due time." Christ also 
says (John 12: 32), "And I, if I be lifted up from 
the earth, will draw all men unto Me." Paul says 



PLEAS TO THE UKSAVED. 123 

(Heb. 2: 9), "But we see Jesus, who was made a 
little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, 
crowned with glory and honor ; that He by the grace 
of God should taste death for every man." Also 
Rom. 5: 18 — "Therefore as by the offence of one 
[Adam] judgment came upon all men to condemna- 
tion ; even so by the righteousness of one [Christ] 
the free gift came upon all naen unto justification of 
life." God inquired of ancient Israel by Ezekiel (18: 
23), "Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked 
should die?" Peter says, "The Lord is . . . not 
willing that any should perish, but that all should 
come to repentance." 2 Pet. 3 : 9. Christ again 
says that " God sent not His Son into the world to 
condemn the world ; but that the world through Him 
might be saved." John 3 : 17. 

Will all men be saved ? These Scriptures which 
we have quoted look like universal salvation. One 
thing is certain : ample provision has been made to 
save all men, and God would just as soon save one 
man as another. But there is another side to this 
question. 

Paul says (Titus 2; 11) that "the grace of God 
that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 
teaching us " — what ? that all men will be saved ? — 
"teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly 
lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly, 
in this present world." This is the gracious lesson 
which all men nmst learn if all men are to be saved ; 
and they must learn it and practice it " in this pres- 
ent world." Unless they do thus, let them hold their 
peace about probation in a future world. By the 
time this elementary lesson is gone through with, 
they will be in condition to go on with the next 



124 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

verse — " Looking for that blessed hope, and the glo- 
rious appearing of the great God and our Savior 
Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He 
might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto 
Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." 

God's abundant grace has appeared with the sweet 
message of salvation " to all men " ; but all men have 
something to do to be saved. They must repent of 
their sins. Acts 17 : 30 — "And the times of this 
ignorance God winked at ; but now commandeth all 
men everywhere to repent : because He hath ap- 
pointed a day, in the which He will judge the world 
in righteousness by that man whom He hath or- 
dained." " Blessed are they that do His command- 
ments, that they may have a right to the tree of life, 
and may enter in through the gates into the city." 
Rev. 22 : 14. Whoever has a right to the tree of 
life, or enters the golden city of the world to come, 
will have done " His commandments," and one of 
those commandments is to repent^ which applies to 
" all men everywhere." 



A LEGACY. 

Much zeal is exhibited by many in gathering to- 
gether property, getting their lives insured, and so 
forth, for the benefit of others when they are dead. 
This may be well enough, but after all their thought- 
fulness and care they often neglect the most impor- 
tant thing, that of leaving their friends the evidence 
that they had a bright hope for the world to come. 
This is the most precious legacy that a friend could 
leave, and to obtain it should be the first object of all 



PLEAS TO THE TH^ SAVED. 125 

who attempt to provide comfort for themselves or 
others. " Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His 
righteousness, and all these things shall be added 
unto you." 

How much better it is to begin life right. When 
the kingdom is sought heartily the Lord adds the 
rest. Some people run the giddy race for wealth all 
their lives, and for that are earnest seekers. Do they 
expect, by thus reversing matters, that the Lord will 
add the kingom of heaven to them, as they reluct- 
antly let go their grasp of the world ?. It is a dan- 
gerous expectation. 

How lightly a pious mother or wife esteems the 
snug little property left by the son or husband in 
comparison with the blessed assurance he left of a 
title to glory and immortality. She would rather 
spend the remainder of her life in suffering and 
want, earning a scanty subsistence, than give up this 
precious comfort. 

On the other hand, the property left is ever tolling 
the death-knell of those who die affluent, yet without 
God and hope. What a sorrow! Not so of those 
who "sleep in Jesus." Hear the Apostle, 1 Thess. 
4: 13: — 

But I would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning 
them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others 
which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died 
and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will 
God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the 
Word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto 
the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are 
asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven 
with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the 
trump of God : and the dead in Christ shall rise first : then 
we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together 



126 CRUMBS OF THE BUEAD OF LIFE. 

"with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air : and 
so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one 
another with these words. 

" Blessed comfort ! " Sorrowing vnth hope is a 
very different matter from sorrowing without hope. 

"Asleep in Jesus! blessed sleep, 
From which none ever wake to weep ; 
A calm and undisturbed repose, 
Unbroken by the dread of foes." 

Then, reader, if you would leave a valuable legacy 
to your beloved ones, and also be a partaker of it 
yourself, see to it that you are " in Jesus," and He 
" in you the hope of glory," while you are in the pos- 
session of life and reason ; and then there will be no 
risk. Oh, what a comfort to an aged mother, who has 
lost an only son, to have the blessed assurance that 
he fell in the ranks of the Lord's army ! It is better 
than great riches without hope. It is sweet solace of 
the midnight hour. Her pillow may be moistened 
with tears of joy as her thoughts turn to the object 
of her love, knowing that the Lord " giveth His be- 
loved sleep," and calleth in the morning ; and from 
the grave on yonder hillside will echo the answer, in 
unison with faithful Job, who said, " Thou shalt call 
and I will answer Thee." Oh, young man, young 
woman, would you be the stay and staff of those 
who love you, as the sun of their life begins to sink 
behind the hills, and the nightly chill creeps on? 
Then make their God your refuge, your hope and 
trust. Here are riches indestructible, imperishable, 
beyond the reach of thief. "The Lord knoweth 
them that are His." Begin this gracious inquiry 
now. Let the rays of the heavenly Sun enter your 



PLEAS TO THE UNSAVED. 12T 

heart, and the chill and damp of indifference will flee 
away. Life and love will rise in your heart, and you 
will " know the love of Christ which passeth under- 
standing." And if you should die before Jesus 
comes, these words will comfort those that mourn : — 
" Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from 
henceforth : yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest 
from their labors ; and their works do follow them." 
Rev. 14: 13. 



LONG-HEADED AND SHORT-SIGHTED. 

The world has many what they are pleased to call 
"long-headed men" ; but they are very short-sighted, 
after all. They will make very shrewd, sharp calcu- 
lations in matters pertaining to this life, especially so 
as to keep "forehanded," that they may put the 
wolf of want so far from their door that they cannot 
hear the most distant howl, and that they may gain 
the honors of their fellows and a position in society, 
if their tastes incline that way. The world calls 
them wise, but God calls them fools. Here is some 
conversation from the Sacred Book which well illus- 
trates this class of people ; — and it is a great class, 
for the principle is the same from the highest to the 
lowest in wealth, wherever it exists : — 

The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plenti- 
fully: and he thought within himself saying, What shall 1 
do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits ? 

[Probably there was plenty of room in that poor 
neighbor's cellar not ten rods off.] 



128 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

And he said, this will I do: I will pull down my barns 
and build greater; 

[This was commendable, you say, for it made work 
for the poor workman. Yes, but it did not alter his 
motive.] 

and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And 
I will say unto my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up 
for many years ; take thine ease, eat, drink and be merry. 

There was a man who was " good to himself," as 
the world calls it. They look up to such and elect 
them senators if they are a mind to crawl out of 
their miserly holes and aspire to office enough to buy 
it. 

But God said — ah ! here is another opinion — unto him, 
Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: 
then whose shall those things be which thou hast pro- 
vided ? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is 
not rich toward God. Luke 12 : 16-21. 

«So is he''— What P A fool, as God thinks. 
Long-headed and short-sighted fools. " The children 
of this world are wiser in their generation than the 
children of light " ; in their way of doing business 
they seem to outwit God's people. But when you 
get one of those men around to the fact that he m 
gaining the whole world and losing his own soul, and 
that there is no exchange — no legal tender for souf^s 
except the blood of Christ — and get his desire for 
gain sanctified to God by getting a glimpse of the 
eternal weight of glory and wealth of the world to 
come, then he turns out to be one of those whom 
this world esteems as fools and God looks upon as 
wise. It is all merely a difference of opinion 
whether it would be best for a man to go in for what 



PLEAS TO THE UNSAVED. 129 

he calls a good time in this world for a brief and fitful 
period, having his own way (as much as the Devil 
will let him, for he rules such) , and die with a name 
and memory, to wake up shortly with the sound of 
the trump of God ann ouncing that it is pay day ; or 
whether it would be better to go in for what Qod 
calls a good time in this world, having the will so in 
harmony with God's way that we can say we have 
our own way^ as we have no ways but God's way, and 
die with a name and memory that is passed with 
pleasure from lip to lip of all good people to be 
aroused with the voice of their Lord saying " Come 
ye blessed of my Father, enter thou into the joy of 
thy Lord." It is merely a difference of opinion, we 
say. Some have become joined to idols, others have 
settled it in their hearts that they will see the inside 
of God's eternal mansions, while multitudes are in 
the valley of decision. There is probably not a 
town, hamlet or city in this broad land but there are 
meetings held there for the purpose of talking this 
matter over so as to be decided intelligently and 
wisely. Some will go — you go and decide this mat- 
ter at once, it is too important to delay. ''The 
wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal 
life through Jesus Christ our Lord." 



"ONE PRICE ONLY." 

There is many a store in these cities which bears 
the above legend posted or painted in a conspicuous 
place. It is a hint to the customer to prevent at- 
tempts at bartering or " beating down " the price of 

6* 



130 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

an article which the dealer has fixed for all. How 
well it is lived up to, is a question. There is an apt 
old proverb which we have heard, that "there is 
more than one hole in a skimmer." And there is 
more than one way to get around human regulations 
without appearing to break them. But most any- 
thing is better than what is termed the "Jew" 
method — any price to sell. 

Be that as it may, salvation is one price to all, 
clear through God's book, from Genesis to Revela- 
tion. There is no discount there, brother, and no 
other mart where it can be obtained. One price I 
and that is God's price. " Ye are bought with a 
price." 1 Cor. 6 : 20 ; 7 : 23. And what a price ! — 
the life-blood of His only begotten Son. That is 
God's part of the transaction; and the other part is 
yourself and all, made over to Him. When that is 
done without reserve, it is a trade ; and you have got 
the best salvation that Christ ever passed over to a 
man or woman, which you will not be likely to keep 
still about. 

But some folks never expect to pay the price of a 
thing ; they figure on getting it at half price. The 
only way it seems that God can get some people to 
take salvation is, when He sees one of those stingy 
souls coming, to raise the price and then fall to par 
value, and then they will run off with it in glee. 
But he does not resort to scheming ; it is only one 
price, and marked in plain figures. Take it or leave 
it. 

" Oh," you say, " I thought salvation was free — 
without money and without price." So it is, so far 
as it relates to your dealings with God and His di- 
vine law in paying for it by works. But there has 



PLEAS TO THE UjN^SAVED. 131 

been a transfer here. Jesus has bought the claims of 
the law with His own blood, and the only price which 
He in His grace and love has fixed is your heart — 
your love — your all, to be handed over to Him — 

" The dearest idol I have known, 
Whate'er that idol be." 

Isn't that cheap enough? The man who would 
banter, barter, or attempt to beat down here and get 
into God's kingdom some other way, is dimply too 
small-souled to be at home in that company who are 
going there by the way of the cross. Ah ! what a 
self-denying company are they who will people that 
bright world. Not they who have done it peevishly, 
whiningly — all the while at heart loving this world 
best; but they who, in an appreciative sense, have 
done it cheerfully, 

No discount here, brother. Salvation is at the 
same price, whether you take an ounce or a ton ; but 
a ton makes a steadier load and rides better. Ana- 
nias and Sapphira his wife thought they could get 
the gift of the Holy Ghost at a discount, but see how 
they turned out. They are, however, not isolated 
examj3les, that is, not in their part of the transac- 
tion, but they are in the matter of doom, which in 
their case arrived ahead of time as a warning to 
others. This is what is the matter with the Church 
today — trying to buy a salvation at a margin ; and 
they would make a " corner " in it if they could. 

Polish, polish — Christianity as a polish or accom- 
plishment to finish off a worlding with, as a tonic to 
a miserable character — that is too much the way it 
is looked at. I had rather be caught in the dirt, 
molding rough iron noses to breaking-up plows, 
than polishing counterfeit money. 



132 CEUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

LIVING SACRIFICES. 

Most everybody wants to die well. Balaam of old 
had his eye on that coveted hour. 

Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last 
end be like his. Num. 23 : 10. 

But the Lord is not in need of dead bodies; they 
have been presented to Him in large numbers. He 
wants limng sacrifices — a sacrifice that can move 
when He has somebody sick or in prison to be visited, 
naked to be clothed, hungry to be fed, thirsty to be 
given drink, strangers to be taken in, or some cause 
to be sustained by a draft on the pocket. 

I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, 
that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, accept- 
able unto God, which is your reasonable service. Kom. 
12: 1. 

Holy bodies are wanted. Some have a weakness 
for presenting a holy soul, and in making a good deal 
of noise in doing it, and keeping the body for their 
own gratification. He does not ask for souls here. 
Humph ! souls cost nothing, i,e,^ the kind usually pre- 
sented. The man would not weigh any less after the 
transaction, nor look nor act much different on Mon- 
day morning after he had slept it off. The eye con- 
tinues to scan lustingly the world's glitter, the ear is 
perched to Sodom's syren songs, the palate is tickled 
with the leeks and onions of Egypt, the feet do not 
make haste to run in the way of God's comraand- 
meiits, the pocket-book remains unemaciated by the 
calliugs of His cause. 

There is hardly any end to the mercy of God, we 
kaow. The thief on the cross rejoiced in the dying 



TO THE UNSAVED. 133 

hoar to know a Savior's acceptance there. Many 
others who have not died as criminals have at last 
been touched by God's love on a death-bed. They 
who even come in at the eleventh hour receive the 
penny ; and do not complain, you who have borne the 
heat and burden of the day. We agreed to work for 
that, and there is no chance to strike for higher 
wages. "Lord, to whom shall we go?" But how 
much better to present the body healthy to God, and 
rejoice in its acceptance all the rest of the days of 
your life ! It belongs to Him ! Surrender it then at 
once, and with a good grace. 

The mercies of God which have been over you in 
your preservation in the hours of danger and sickness 
should stimulate you to do it at once. Did not you 
promise to when you were in that dangerous spot if 
you ever got to a place of safety? or when you were 
on that bed of sickness, if you ever got well ? Have 
not done it yet ? Oh, my soul ! to what a long-suffer- 
ing Creditor your promises are due. Where would 
you be if He should be so behindhand with sunshine, 
rain, and every good and perfect gift whereby you 
live, move and have a being? You grumble at one 
week's foul weather. " Oh, when will the sun ever 
shine again ! " Afraid it will be a stormy night — not 
prayer-meeting night, but — the night of the ball ! 
How many weeks has God waited for the fulfilment 
of that promise ? How long have seraphic harps 
been tuned ready to strike the anthem of rejoicing : 
"There is one sinner that repenteth!" Going to 
keep them waiting for you much longer ? " Long- 
suffering to US-ward, not willing that any should per- 
ish, but that all should come to repentance." 

How much longer God is going to wait for tardy 



134 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

sinners no one knows. " Now is the accepted time." 
Yield to Him now that body — those talents — which 
you have been using to enhance Satan's kingdom. It 
is ^^yoiir reasonable service." There is nothing fanat- 
ical about that. God does not want a nest of fanat- 
ics; but somebody may call you a fanatic. Well, 
never mind that; if they never called you one when 
you spent nights in drunken brawls and went home — 
got there somehow — and went to bed with your 
boots on, there is some reason — justifiable reason for 
it now. Oh! to be the Lord's, whether living or dy- 
ing, is the sheet-anchor of comfort. 



"NOT ASHAMED TO BE CALLED THEIR 
GOD." — Heb. 11: 16. 

In my observations of human nature I have noticed 
that people love to own that they are near relatives 
to certain persons spoken of who are rich or famous, 
no matter about the righteousness of their charac- 
ters ; but, on the other hand, they are as silent as a 
stone when others are spoken of who are just as nearly 
related by nature but are poor, or obscure in the soci- 
ety of the world, though with characters as spotless 
as the angels. 

I was in a nice shoe store on the main street, the 
other day, purchasing a pair of boots, and mentioned 
to the proprietor that I had another pair which needed 
to be repaired. He referred me to a cobbler in a lit- 
tle hovel near where I live; but, mind you, he did not 
say he was any relation to him. So I went to the 
cobbler with my boots to mend, and remarking that I 



BELIEVING AND COISIFESSING. 135 

had bought some of a certain shoe dealer, he replied 
with much pleasurf^, " That is my brother ! " 

That is human nature the world over; fellowship 
and confessed relationship on the ground of wealth, 
popularity or reputation. But what a blessed con- 
trast there is in the divine nature here. God fellow- 
ships and confesses people as His relatives on the 
ground of character alone. What a sad silence there 
must be in Heaven when some rich tyrannical scamp 
is spoken of, whose wealth is ill-gotten, or whose fame 
is that of this world only! But what an animated 
conversation must spring up when our "Advocate 
with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous," men- 
tions in intercession the name of that poor, perhaps 
obscure, but righteous person. How the heavenly 
harps must ring! It seems to me that Jehovah must 
summon Heaven to be quiet till He gives the word of 
blessing to the angel who is to bear it. 

Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the 
poor of this world rich m faith, and heirs of the kingdom 
which He hath promised to them that love Him ? James 
2 : 5. Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed 
on Him ? John 7 : 48. These all died in faith — not mil- 
lionaires — not having received the promises, but having 
seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and em- 
braced them, and confessed that they were strangers and 
pilgrims on the earth, Heb. 11: 13, 14, 

living in and owning a brown-stone front on Penn- 
sylvania Avenue? No; this class have not begun to 
live yet; they are only staying here awhile (some in 
the ground and some out) ^ till "He who is our life 
shall appear," then they will " appear with Him in 
glory;" then they will have life, and that "more 
abundantly ; " then they will live, " For they that 



136 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

say such things declare plainly that they seek a coun- 
try." They have not found Paradise yet, but they 
have heard of it. "And truly, if they had been mind- 
ful of that country from whence they came out, they 
might have had opportunity to have returned." 

God's people can go b ack into the place from 
whence they came out, and be well received any time, 
if they wish to; but the best of them are " not mind- 
fuloi that country from whence they come out;" 
they see something ahead so much better that they 
forget the things which are behind, and press on tow- 
ard the things which are before. 

But now they desire a better country, that is, an heav- 
enly : wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God : 
for He hath prepared for them a city." Heb. 11; 13-16. 

This is the class God is not ashamed of; those who 
confess Him here — those who confess themselves 
pilgrims and strangers here, looking for a heavenly 
country. If He had been ashamed of them He would 
not have p repared ihem a city ; but He is not 
ashamed of them " for He hath prepared for them a 
city." And Christ has said 

I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare 
a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto 
myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14; 
2,3. 

Well, cheer up, ye poverty-stricken ones ; the city is 
about ready for you. John saw it by prophetic sight 
long ago, coming down. It will come! Rev. 21 : 2. 
"He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I 
will be his God, and he shall be my son " (Rev. 21 : 
7), regardless of the color of his skin or his distin- 
guished ancestry, or any other human consideration. 



BELIEVING AND CONFESSING. 137 

Cheer up, ye saints ! Own up your Father; is not He 
rich? Yes; but He has some poor despised children 
who have not yet come into possession of their full 
estate. Well, own them up here in advance^ by faith. 
"He that confesseth me before men him will I confess 
before my Father and His holy angels." There will 
be no shame in God's kingdom over those who are not 
ashamed of Christ or His people here. But there 
will a class arise "to shame and everlasting con- 
tempt." Dan. 12 : 2. To avoid that class be an 
overcomer of self and human instincts here, and con- 
fess Christ and His words and people everywhere, 
and you will have distinguished honors when human 
potentates lay down their crowns at your feet for- 
ever. 



138 CEUMBS OF THE BEEAD OF LIFE. 

CHAPTEE V. 



INGERSOLL AND THE BIBLE. 

What is the matter with IngersoU and his clan ? 
Pretty much the same complaint that Flerodias had, 
who had John's head taken oflF because he had told 
her that she was an adulteress in living unlawfully 
with Herod, being his brother Philip's wife. Matt. 
14. John was a matchless man, and was generally 
honored as a prophet, but he must be put out of the 
way as a man who endangers the peace of sinners by 
telling them the truth. 

The Lord Jesus who "went about doing good," 
who "spake as never man spake," of whom Pilate's 
wife dreamed, and said on the morning of his execu- 
tion, "Have nothing to do with that just man," who 
was under the close scrutiny of Pilate, and drew from 
him the judgment at last, " I find no fault in Him," 
of whom the centurion said, while he hung dead 
upon the cross, "Truly this was the Son of God" — 
He must be put out of the way, for the same reason. 
He pointed out to the people their sins, and offered 
them no extenuation, and no remedy except in re- 
pentance and forgiveness by His own grace. No such 
person can be tolerated in any place where sin is 
loved. 

It is not strange that people are picking flaws with 
the Bible, then, if they would hail such personages as 
the Lord of life to the judgment seat. He was flaw- 
less under the closest scrutiny of the times, and was 
put to death by false witnesses. And he is faultless 



WORDS FOR SKEPTICS. 139 

Still, when criticized by the light of our age, and cru- 
cified by as bitter, heartless hatred and false testimony 
as ever. But the Bible abounds in chances to pick 
flaws, and find fault when read in the light of self- 
conceit, or sinful rebelliousness, — so does God's work 
everywhere. Even Mr. Ingersoll, in common with 
poor (un) wise humanity, finds much fault with him- 
self, and his circumstances and surroundings. But 
the Bible tells the truth yet, so loudly and plainly as 
to make the sinner mad until he yields to it or rejects 
it altogether. 

Mr. Ingersoll, like Paul, may think that he is 
verily doing God service in his own willfulness, yet I 
machine that with Paul he finds it hard to " kick 
against the pricks " of God's Word and Spirit, at 
times. 

The writer has had experience in this line, and 
doubtless could talk about as well against the Bible 
as Mr. Ingersoll can ; yet after finding out what the 
thing is worth in fair weather, he knows what it is 
worth in the storm. Some commercial paper may 
suffer at times a great discount, at others it has a 
brisk demand. Time tests many things; eternity, all 
things. 

Intelligent people can see the merits of the Lord's 
Gospel and the demerits of Ingersoll's. The Lord 
preached His sermons and did His great cures, asking 
nothing, and was careless enough of His fame to tell 
each patient not to tell anybody of it. Ingersoll tells 
people " what they must do to be saved," at fifty 
cents per ticket ; and when told, it proves to be what 
they must do not to be saved, but to be lost. Do the 
])Oor have Ingersoll's gospel preached to them ? If 
so, they pay for it. If he has such a mightily im- 



140 CRUMBS OF THE BKEAD OF LIFE. 

portant message, why does he not print it, and scat- 
ter it as freely in the hovels as the Lord's servants do 
tracts? It is evident enough that he, as well as many 
of the Lord's untrue servants, is doing this work to 
get money and a reputation for smartness. 

It costs much effort to get people out to hear the 
Gospel of Christ for nothing, yet they will pay fifty 
cents an hour to hear it ridiculed. The peace of 
Christ can be had in the heart for nothing, but it will 
cost more than fifty cents to keep it out. It followed 
Voltaire to his deathbed. 

Why do skeptics keep battling the Bible ? Why 
not say it is a humbug, and let it alone, as they do 
all other books that they so decide upon ? It is be- 
cause of a semi-conviction of its truthfulness. There 
are few who can say the Bible is a humbug, and for- 
ever table the resolution. It is this uncertainty of 
action that is an argument in its favor. 



WORSHIP. 

WORSHIP. 



141 




"Akd Mary said, my soul doth magnify the Lord." 
Luke 1 : 46. Sensible Mary ! He is worthy of the 
magnifying power of us all. Sis character will bear 
it. Our views of Him improve the more searching 
and unprejudiced is our security. Pilate said, "I 
find no fault in Him." Many of us have employed 
all the powers of our spii^itual eyesight, and have 
looked long and lovingly at Him ; and have not only 
found no fault in Him, but, infinitely many beauties, 
glories and graces. " He doeth all things well." He 
is '' the chief est among ten thousands and the one 
altogether lovely." Praise Him. Gloi'ify Him. 
Magnify Him. 

Mary continues : — "And my spirit hath rejoiced 
in God my Savior." Verse 47. Of course it has, 
and so has and will everybody's spirit who will cease 
magnifying self's goodness and other's faults, and 
will magnify the Lord, The spirit of true worship 
has too much died out of the church, and the cause 



142 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OP LIFE. 

is not because the magnifying business has ceased, 
but because it has been perverted. If a person is 
bent on living a lean Christian life, let him turn the 
glass to look at other^s faults. They will not need a 
very powerful glass, either. As long as they are at 
that business I will warrant that they will not " re- 
joice in God their Savior " much. Some are prone 
to magnify self. Well, they cannot rejoice in the 
Lord that way. Rejoicing in self and rejoicing in 
the Lord are two irreconcilable things. Some are 
too much given to magnifying their denomination, 
so much so that the personal force of Christ's charac- 
ter is too much hidden thereby. The magnifying 
business is pretty well followed, anyhow, but would 
be productive of better results if turned " unto Jesus, 
the author and finisher of our faith." But people 
who are in nature's blindness cannot magnify him. 
" There is no beaaty in Him that they should desire 
Him." Is. 53 : 2. What they need is the magnify' 
ing glass of faith^ and that well polished with the 
Holy Spirit. 



DOUBTS. 

Doubts are not the worst thing you could know of 
a Christian ; sincere doubts are often an evidence of 
real progress. Some people will never be troubled 
with doubts as long as they stick to that peck meas- 
ure of faith and experience which they have been in 
so long — keep in the sectarian rut — adhere to that 
old, beaten path — wear that old threadbare coat of 
half-and-half religion. Other folks will not have any 
doubts about us either, if we are of that stamp. " Oh, 



WOBDS FOE, SKEPTICS. 143 

yes, that is the same old fellow who has been in that 
place ever since I can remember." But you just let 
Christ deepen the work of grace for that man, and 
they will begin to inquire, " Is not this he that sat 
and begged?" Others will say, " He is like him;" 
but it will not be fully settled until he exclaims : " I 
am heP 

The man who is making real progress in the divine 
life will be apt to stir up the doubts of his musty 
minister concerning him. 

The man who pins his faith on that old musty 
creed, handed down as an heirloom — covered with 
dust — from his ancestors, never will be troubled with 
doubts; he has a passive confidence which remains 
intact as long as the world turns regularly on its axis. 
Some are easily satisfied ; they are contented with 
little things, like a child with a rubber rattle, because 
they have not the capacity for greater things. Others 
liaveroom enough for the world but Christ is crowded 
out. A drop of Christianity in a bucket of worldli- 
ness is about the proper proportion for their comfort. 
They are smart in a worldly sense, but lazy for God ; 
too lazy to pray. I have heard of a man who had a 
prayer printed and pasted on to the headboard of his 
bed, and when he retired at night would point at it, 
and say, "Lord, those are my sentiments." 

It takes more to satisfy a hungry and thirsty man 
than one who has no appetite for the savory viands. 
Put before him what you would set before a dainty 
dyspeptic and he would have doubts about whether 
it were worth while to attempt to partake of the 
apology which the other man might call a big dinner. 
If some who jump and shout over their little posses- 
sions in grace, had one-half the flood of convincing 



144 CKUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

divine light and testimony of truth that another man 
has, who is of a less demonstrative disposition, you 
would have to hoop them to keep them from burst- 
ing. The man who does but little requires but little 
food ; but he who daily bends his back to the burden 
of saving a lost world, must live "by every word 
which proceedeth out of the mouth of God." And 
he can digest that which would lie hard on an idle 
man's stomach. 

Doubts are vastly different from unbelief. Unbelief 
has made up its mind and gone off; but doubt raps 
the wheels of the car of truth to see whether they 
are cracked or not. If they send forth a clear ring, 
then it jumps aboard and goes on its way rejoicing; 
just like Thomas, confirming others. 

A colt who capers about the yard on a spring morn- 
ing does not doubt. Doubts are what a thinker runs 
against. An explorer will see things which the 
dweller at home does not see. 

But, thank God, we have a guide in exploring the 
deep things of which will guide us into all truth and 
show us things to come, " a light unto our feet and a 
lamp unto our path." Let us walk in the light, and 
doubts will recede as the light advances with us. Do 
not throw yourself away because doubts confront 
you. A wise man should doubt the truth of a great 
deal that is preached from the desk nowadays ; he 
may be puzzled over things in the Bible even ; and a 
true disciple may now and then doubt the genuineness 
of his own experience ; but it takes a fool to doubt 
the existence of God and the revelation of His Son. 



WORDS WITH SKEPTICS. 145 

DOUBTERS. 

DouBTEES are not necessarily devils. We read 
that " the devils believe and tremble." Doubts sel- 
dom occur to men of little knowledge. Men of large 
mental caliber, though honest and good, are liable to 
have them concerning many matters of doctrine and 
practice. A man who is not afraid to air his doubts 
of human theology is generally a safe theologian, for 
an honest doubt is better than a shaky faith. 

A great many seem to think that their good stand- 
ing with the Lord depends upon their unquestion- 
ingly swallowing of the contents of the dish which 
their human leaders may be pleased to pass them. 
There is a difference between faith in God and faith 
in men, as we shall find out in the end, if an occa- 
sional thump against hard, immovable facts does not 
satisfy us now of it. 

It is surprising how gullible some people are with 
the leadership of their heroes. They are completely 
under control of their magic wand. Whichever way 
that moves they go. God does not require anybody, 
high or low, to eat more than they can digest, just 
because somebody likes to handle the spoon, and see 
them swallow. 

We are exhorted to be ready to give " a reason of 
vhe hope that is in us with meekness and fear." The 
IJible says much about faith, but it does not exclude 
reason. Human leaders are apt to want their posi- 
tions swallowed, and no questions asked, like the 
negro, who, when in his account of the creation, said 
that the Lord made the first man, and " leaned him 
up against the fence to dry," was offended by the 
7 



146 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

ready response from an ebony brother, " Who made 
de fence ? " 

Concerning theoretical matters, we are held respon- 
sible only according to our capacity. To hold a gal- 
lon is not required of a two-quart jug. We are to 
grow in grace and knowledge. 

Regarding experience, the Lord would have us 
walk or live by faith. A practical life of faith is bet- 
ter than faith in a prophetic exposition, which cannot 
be comprehended. He blesses us "which see not, 
yet believe." Yet He does not discourage inquiring 
minds. He gives His children considerable liberty 
about the premises, and does not fret at honest ques- 
tions, though often asked. He sows " the Word," 
but He chooses rather that a man should understand 
it as it falls into his heart, if it takes a year for a 
problem to go through his head, than to swallow it 
in a hurry, and get offended at its effects. 

I am glad there was a Thomas among the twelve. 
It tended to make evidence of important truth strong. 
I suppose he irritated the others because he would 
not believe what they said, but it made no difference, 
he was going to feel the scars if the Lord would let 
him. Well, the Lord did. It is just like Him to do 
so to an honest doubter. He was not afraid of 
queries, nor investigation in broad daylight, in which 
respect he was totally unlike modern Spiritualists. 

Now in my of)inion, doubters generally do them- 
selves harm not to be more inquisitive of the Lord 
and His truth. Turn on the light ; truth will bear 
it. Do not try to hold up the truth ; let that hold 
you. 

Some of us are more particular that our prayers 
are answered than we are concerning other matters 



WOKDS WITH OAVILERS. 147 

which from their very nature must be held in doubt. 
I fear we do not test the Lord enough individually. 
He says much about that. ^^ Prove me therewith." 
How the Israelites tested Him in their wants, and 
how readily He gratified them, and how unthankful 
they were! "Delight thyseK in the Lord, and He 
shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Let us 
prove Him to be what He says He is — a prayer- 
answering God. 



NO PRETENSIONS. 

Some, as if to excuse or justify themselves from 
the censure that others get, who, having committed 
themselves to the cause of Christ, fall by the way, 
say, " Well, I make no pretensions, and if I fall no- 
body is to blame." True ; and if at the close of the 
battle of life, you do not get the reward that he who 
has enlisted and gets occasionally wounded and sick 
does, who will be to blame then ? Who will be to 
blame if you are treated as one disloyal and treason- 
able, and punished with death? 

He who enlists dons the governmental uniform and 
goes to the front, multiplying the chances of getting 
shot at, and the more so as his rank and efficiency 
increase ; but if wounded he has the benefits of the 
government hospital and care. But stragglers and 
spies, who get a random shot, must shirk for them- 
selves. There is a wide difference between getting 
wounded or killed in the honorable service of the 
government, and "skedaddling to Canada," either to 
escape the draft or to desert after enlisting, as they 
regard it. You cannot hire a substitute in the 
Lord's army, either. 



148 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

There are men who make pretensions when a war 
breaks out, and there are others who enlist to fight 
till it is over. We remember some of the former at 
the beginning of our late civil war. There was no 
limit to their oratory at town meetings. You would 
almost think that Patrick Henry had risen from the 
dead. But in less than three months after entering 
the army they were wanted, and were found — up in 
Canada. We know several of the latter, too ; they 
are around us today, enjoying the things for which 
they fou!^ht. They can tell you the incidents of 
many a fearful struggle. They are eloquent now. 
Not so with him who was eloquent at the beginning, 
and forsook his post; he would rather talk about 
something else now. 

" Pretensions " is a poor word to use in connection 
with those who quietly and sincerely take a stand to 
fight the battles of the Lord, though they sicken in 
the privation and suffering, and are scarred in the 
conflict. It is ill-becoming in those who stay amid 
the comforts — if they are comforts compared to 
being, though in bodily ill, in the immediate presence 
and command of the Lord — of the world's home 
thus to taunt any one found by the wayside fallen 
out of the march, weary and footsore, yet clad in the 
uniform worn and soiled with years of service. It 
would look better to raise him up, and strengthen 
and speed him on with his advancing comrades, ere 
he was made a prisoner of Satan. 

Whether we make pretensions or not, we are not 
relieved of responsibility. It seems as though the 
gnawings of hunger to the body could be no more 
than the despicable sense of meanness that must 
haunt the soul of him who is shirking his place in the 



WOBDS WITH SKEPTICS. 149 

ranks in this battle which commends itself to e very- 
pure, reasonable, and loyal mind — the one against 
the two, destroyers of. the peace and well-being of 
home and society, sin and Satan. But, be that as it 
may, however men may realize the honorableness or 
meanness of their course, a day of retribution has- 
teth, when none can escape. Men and women too 
modest to come out and cast their influence for 
Christ now, will then have to come to the front and 
receive for the deeds done in the body. There will 
be "glory, honor, peace, immortality" to those who 
sought them in service of the King ; but there will be 
no foreign clime to escape to from the indignation of 
the government, which will fill those who receive it 
with " shame and everlasting contempt ; " for Christ, 
the world's rightful ruler, will then have given him 
" the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost 
parts of the earth for his possessions." "If the words 
spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgres- 
sion and disobedience received a just recompense of 
reward ; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great 
salvation." Heb. 2 : 2, 3. 



THE PLAINNESS OF THE WAY. 

We are beginning to have less and less sympathy 
with a certain kind of infidels who are quite numer- 
ous in our day — those who wish to appear so honest 
that they have no objections to being Christians, 
provided certain technical details of the divine re- 
gime were only cleared up to their intellects. But, 
having had some experience on both sides of this 
question, and having given the matter much reflec- 



150 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

tion, I have come to the fixed conclusion that the all- 
wise Father planned the scheme of human redemp- 
tion ; that He knew the imperative needs of a sinful 
race, and therefore in His boundless love and mercy- 
tempered it accordingly. So we have the Bible — 
God's will revealed. We have no changes of great 
importance to make in it, only to rid it of such minor 
imperfections as have become attached to it in the 
hands of men. It is a jewel that has been soiled 
some in unfitted hands; but it is a jewel still, and 
liberal scrubbing and washing does not harm it. 

It has already endured unharmed, rough handling 
enough to appear to my mind to be of more than 
human origin. It wears well. It will abide the 
shifting scenes of time. "For all flesh is as grass, 
and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. 
The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth 
away : but the word of the Lord endureth for ever. 
And this is the word which by the Gospel is preached 
unto you." 1 Peter 1 : 24, 25. 

Yes; the way is plain — very plain in the essen- 
tials. It is plain enough that the sad circumstances 
which God by the Bible seeks to remedy do exist. 
We can see them all about us and in ourselves. And 
reliable testimony is abundant, by persons who have 
been afflicted and cured, of the efficacy of that 
remedy when properly applied. And yet man is not 
happy - — he mourns, he languishes, he cries, he faith- 
lessly prays for the very things God abundantly holds 
out to him in his Word. Why not believe and re- 
ceive ? 

It is plain to the thoughtful and conscientious that 
by nature we have a downward tendency — a disposi- 
tion to do things that are to our own injury, and to 



WORDS WITH SKEPTICS. 151 

the injury of our fellows to say nothing of being a 
flagrant offence to a just Creator ; and it is plain also 
that to some alarming extent at le ast, we are morally 
responsible f or deeds done in the body. Yea, unless 
our conscience is seared as with a hot iron, our bones 
shake for fear of a future reckoning. Now the book 
of God is plain in its precepts and commands to the 
wayward race, and first of all, and more important 
than all, it enjoins repentance and deep humility con- 
cerning the past, and ready obedience in the future. 
But this is just where the shoe pinches. Who has 
not come short of the just glory that he ought to 
have reflected upon the work of his Creator? This 
is plain enough in fact and plain enough in revela- 
tion, and God will go no farther with a disobedient 
person, I care not how much of a head to compre- 
hend supposed hidden things he boasts of, until the 
required humility, repentance and obedience is 
experienced. 

It is as with a natural father and disobedient son. 
What father would consent to humor such an one 
with information so distant from the point at issue ? 
If father says to Johnny, who has flung his hat on 
the floor in plain defiance of a plain command to 
hang it up always when he comes in, " Hang up your 
hat on the nail," of what benefit would it be to 
Johnny to humor him with answers for information 
as to how nails are made, or who drove them up to 
hang hats on, till he had obeyed the simple rule of 
his father ? 

The way is plain enough for love's sake, for obedi- 
ence' sake, and I am not so sure that some things in 
revelation are not purposely obscure, to test or bring 
out the requisite loyalty and obedience on the part 
of men to plain commands. At all hazards, what a 



152 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

little thing a stubborn, disobedient, rebellious man 
will often bring ujd to justify himself. It is the ques- 
tion, " Who was Cain's wife ? " or some other equally- 
foolish, irrelevant matter. I wonder how many more 
there would have been singing the new song, '' Thou 
hast washed and redeemed us by Thy blood out of 
every nation, kindred, tongue and people," in the fu- 
ture world, if the matter of Cain's wife had been 
made plainer? or any other seeming technical con- 
tradictions in the Bible ? The glorious result of sal- 
vation would be unaltered. God will leave no stone 
unturned to save a soul, but He will take no pains to 
satisfy rebellious quibblers. 

There are no contradictions in essentials. The 
door of salvation is open to those who will come in. 
To those who sicken of themselves and the world 
the great Physician turns no careless ear. The 
pantry of Heaven is loaded with just such things as 
the hungry and thirsty want. " Blessed are they 
that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they 
shall be filled." When spleeny infidels get hungry 
enough for the plain food which God has for them 
they will probably "be filled." God has no sugar 
lumps or raisins for those who are doubled up with 
sulks. He knows what is best, and we shall need to 
pray " Thy will be done," before we have peace. 

If skeptics would pray more and argue less they 
would not be troubled for light. They are standing 
in their own light; their heads are in the way of 
their heart's work. God wants simple and humble 
love and obedience on the start, and to such as will 
comply He has a mighty fund of information to fol- 
low, some here, but much more hereafter,, — 

'* When the mists have cleared away." 



FAITH AND WORKS. 153 

CHAPTER VI. 



FAITH AND WORKS. 

There is something to believe to be saved, and 
something to do to be saved. But the New Testa- 
ment is a great exemplification of the rule that 
" there is a place for everything, and everything 
should be in its place." Faith has its sphere, and 
works have their place in the heaven-born scheme of 
human redemption. The unregenerated man knows 
well enough that he is out of joint — out of harmony 
with Heaven — unreconciled to God, and how to get 
back on peaceable terms — heal the breach — is the 
question with him. Well, he looks around and sur- 
veys the field, and observes folks who are reputed to 
be people of faith — they belong to the church — 
whose works are not what they should be. So he 
concludes that he will not enroll himself among 
them, but will work himself into favor with God. 
And just see him tug and sweat ! He is just as 
deep in the mire as the man of faith — preten- 
sions and bad works — with the exception that he 
may have a better motive. The trouble with him is 
that he has got the cart before the horse. Hitch 
into the Gospel thills ; about face, brother, and you 
will pull that load easy enough. There is many a 
man who wants to be a Christian, but, like the Irish- 
man who mounted the horse facing his tail, inform- 
ing his inquisitive bystander that he guessed he knew 
which way he was going, he is really going in the 
opposite direction. 
7* 



154 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

Faith in God is the Christian's motive power ; the 
more faith he has the more power he has, and the 
more he wants to do and can do for God. He under- 
stands this, and puts the motive power ahead, and 
draws the load after. 

Faith is the first approach to God. " Without 
faith it is impossible to please God." Heb. 11 : 6. 
If you have not got that with you, reader, you can 
hold no interview with God. He is not " at home " 
to the fellow who comes around with unbelief in his 
satchel, trying to worm into acquaintanceship or re- 
stored relationship. That is reasonable enough, too. 
Men will condemn God, the Bible and Christianity 
for the same things which they would do themselves. 
Now just look here: — Supposing that neighbor of 
yours over the way had a falling out with you some 
time ago, on a matter concerning your truthfulness 
and veracity. He would not believe you in a certain 
thing you had promised ; had given currency to the 
statement that your word was of no account, and 
had called you hard names until he had got so far 
estranged from you that he had quite dropped you 
out of mind. But one day a friend of yours, who 
happens to be in his presence, praises you to the 
skies as a good and a true man. " I have tried him 
and proved him " your friend says. 

Well, the man begins to wilt ; he is convicted that 
he has been in the wrong ; your goodness comes 
upon him like a flood. " I really want to get back 
and become reconciled to that neighbor," he says ; 
" but I hate most awfully to go right over there and 
ring the front-door bell, and call him to the door and 
acknowledge that I am wrong and that he is right." 
And so he begins the work of reconciliation by 



FAITH AND WOKKS. 155 

watching his opportunity; and when you are in a 
little hard spot he sends a boy to the back door with 
a basket of cold victuals — something that was left^ 
or a few cast-off garments, if he is a little stingy. If 
there is a little spark of manliness in him he may do 
better than that. But all this maneuvering does not 
produce reconciliation ; it does not over the ground. 
You must sooner or later be approached by him and 
receive his acknowle dgement of his wrong and your 
right in the matter. 

If you want reconciliation with God, brother, go 
to the front door like a man, and ring the bell until 
you receive an answer. Say in all penitence, " Dear 
God, I believe your Word, and my acts from this out 
shall say so." He will take you to His bosom ; and 
then, having become accepted in His love, you will 
not thereafter have to work to obtain reconciliation, 
but being full of joy that the breach is healed you 
will run in the way of His commandments, spread 
His name, fame and love abroad, and only wish you 
had begun this way before and could only now do 
more. 



ESSENTIALS TO SALVATION". 

BELiEvi:^rG and doing are divinely ordered essen- 
tials to salvation. That is, the salvation of those 
who are capable of believing and doing; children 
need not do either, " for of such is the kingdom of 
Heaven." Believino; and doinoj are but other names 
for faith and works, and they were intended by their 
Author to be close partners in the redemptive scheme. 
Persons have done themselves and the Gospel plan 



156 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

much injury by the esteem of the one and the disre- 
gard of the other. The Philippian jailer uttered the 
voice of many who think morals or acts alone will 
save them, when he sprang in, and stood tremblingly 
before Paul and Silas, and made that notable inquiry, 
" What shall I do to be saved ? " Paul did not tell 
Lim to do a thing, it was to " helie^^e " — " Believe on 
the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." 
There are those who need to believe more and others 
who need to do more to be saved. God knows how 
to strike the balance in the end, if we do not concern 
ourselves enough to find it out savingly here. 

What is essential and non-essential to believe nnd 
do to be saved has been the inquiry ever since the 
grace of God brought to us salvation's cheering note, 
by one class to see how little is required in order that 
they may escape damnation, and by the other hovj 
much is their privilege to enjoy here, and to warrant 
them " an abundant entrance " into the blessed here- 
after. Many settle down comiDlacently under Paul's 
answer to the jailer, thinking that is a recipe that 
fits every case. But you must remember that the 
whole creation did not spring in before Paul and 
Silas with that inquiry ; it was ojie man^ the jailer. 
Had everybody been there, and had the same experi- 
ence and motives, they would have got the same 
answer. But they would not have all acted in such 
admirable unison, no more than they do now when 
God's Spirit is at work. Instead of heartily spring- 
ing in with any such willing inquiry some would have 
peeked in to merely see what all the noise was about. 
Some would have been much scared, no doubt, but 
fright is not faith. The sudden and unmistakable 
arrival of the day of Judgment is all that will cause 
many to act as the jailer did. 



FAITH AND WOEKS. 157 

As to belief on the Lord Jesus Christ in order to 
be saved, it makes a vast difference what you call 
that belief. There are thousands believing on Hira 
in their way who are in the broad way to destruction. 
"The devils also believe," and do what many of 
their followers do not — "tremble." Saving belief 
on the Lord Jesus is not idle assent, jDassive affirma- 
tion, or flesh and blood conclusion, but it is a grasp- 
ing faith in Christ as the Son of God — our only 
Salvation — revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. We 
grasp Him thus because, through the Spirit's agency 
we se?ise our lost conditioriy and see in Him God's 
proffered hand of mercy ; not simply have a mental 
approval of the sentiments and general character of 
Christ. Many speak sentimentally and commendably 
of the kind acts of Jesus without recognizing Him 
as their Savior. They expect this soft condition of 
the heart is all that is necessary. The heart must be 
soft, not with sentiment merely, but with penitence ; 
and not only so, but the seed — the Word of God — 
must find lodgment there, and its growth encour- 
aged, unfettered by the thorns of this world, in order 
to produce that repentance, turning about that saves. 

"What must J do to be saved? The jailer did 
not ask what he should believe to be saved. There 
are many ready to believe anything in their way. 
There is no end to their capacity to swallow what 
you tell them, but to do something for Christ or His 
disciples is another thing. There are scores in many 
places who are as sound as a nut in theology, but in 
good works they are lacking. They have been 
strict attendants to the Word "from their youth u]3," 
but they have not regarded their property with a con- 
verted eye, nor followed Christ in self-denial. This 



158 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

cry of '* Lord, Lord," will not avail, unless followed 
up close with " doing the things which He says." 



FAITH AND FRUITS. 

I BELIEVE, says one, that we shall be rewarded 
according to the deeds done in the body. So do I. 
The Bible says so. But how is the scheme to be car- 
ried out ? Will the deeds of a lifetime be massed in 
a bulk, and an average taken as a basis of reward? 
That would be calculating, as the man thought who 
cut timber for a building — some too short and some 
too long, saying that he guessed it would average 
about right. Or will a man be rewarded for ev^ry 
deed separately, in the order in which they were 
committed ? If so, some who have done things wor- 
thy of death at various stated times, and sandwiched 
in between them sundry saintly deeds, ought to be 
executed first, then resuscitated, and so on ad injini' 
turn. In this way some plod on in their evil ways, 
nursing a faint hope that somehow, as God allows 
them to live now. He will tolerate them hereafter. 

There is another side to this, and a better view of 
it. If you want to go in on the debt and credit sys- 
tem with the Almighty, you can do so, but I do not. 
You will find that He can keep books as well as you 
can. Oh, yes ; I believe, as the Bible says, that every 
man will be rewarded according to the deeds done in 
the body, whether good or bad ; but we had better, 
in the first place, put ourselves in the attitude to re- 
ceive that gift — " that unspeakable gift." "For the 
wages of sin is death ; but the gift of God is eternal 
life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6 : 23. 



FAITH AND WORKS. 159 

But not as the offence, so also is the free gift; for if 
through the offence of one many be dead, much more the 
grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, 
Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it 
was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment 
was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many 
offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence 
deatli reigned by one; much more they which receive 
abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall 
reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Rom. 5 : 15-17. God 
so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, 
that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but 
have everlasting life. John 3 : 16. 

Repentance, faith, obedience — these are the steps 
that put you in the attitude to receive this unspeaka- 
ble gift. 

It is " the grace of God that bringeth salvation," 
brother. And the response on your part to its teach- 
ing is denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, and liv- 
ing soberly, righteously and godly in this present 
world ; " looking for that blessed hope, and the glori- 
ous appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus 
Christ." Titus 2 : 13. Your works, apart from 
the saving attitude of faith, do not bring it, brother. 
Sin has wages, and righteousness a reward apart from 
the gift of God. Death will overtake him whose 
sins have not been brought by faith and repentance 
to the mercy-seat, no matter what good things he has 
tried to do as a set-off. A heavenly reward to the 
labor-loving Christian comes with the Life-giver. 
Two men expect to be rewarded on a certain railway 
train ; but one gets aboard and the other gets left. 
Whose fault is it ? Brother, get aboard^ and then we 
will talk this thing over as we go steaming through 
hill and dale. 



160 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

I can hardly have patience with the man who ex- 
pects to work out his salvation without the motive 
power of true faith. I go into a huge lumber mill, 
where every sort of woodwork is done, from the get- 
ting out of four-inch rock maple plank to the jigging 
out of ornamental wall baskets. All kinds of men 
are employed, but among them all I do not find one 
crank who is forever advocating having the boiler 
and engine taken out of the building, and doing the 
work by hand. " It is not steam that we want, but 
work done." They know that steam is what turns 
out the work. But the same men will blindly say, 
" It is not faith, but works, that we want." Ah ! 
brother, fire up the boiler of faith ; turn on the steam, 
and go to work for God, and you will turn out better 
work than you will by hand, and more of it. 



FAITH AND WORKS — A SPAN. 

If any Christian journeyist is on the way to the 
kingdom of God in the one-horse chaise of either 
faith or works, he may as well stop his steed, which 
in his imagination is so sure and fleet-footed, and 
harness both faith and works together ; and not 
make a " tandem team " of either, but put them 
abreast to the load. As faith is generally the weaker 
of the two, give her the advantage and put her 
on the " nigh side " ;• and as works is usually inclined 
usually to hang back you will need to urge her some- 
what. Be sure, at least, that both keep straight 
ahead. Also keep a " straight rein " ; it will steady 
them from stumbling and keep them in the way. 
Feed both well with the same food — the promises 



FAITH AND WORKS. 161 

of God. Faith will need special care. Inspire her 
occasionally (not with the whip) with the shortness 
of the remainder of the journey, with blessed rest at 
its end. 

If any mere moralist expects to please God with 
his one-horse turnout of works, he has mistaken 
expectations ; for God has declared through Paul, 
His chosen (Heb. 11: 6), that "without faith it is 
impossible to please Him." That we need the grace 
of God is readily assented to, but not so readily 
accepted through its channel — faith. Depend upon 
it, grace — special grace — will not come to you until 
faith, inspired in your bosom by the promises of God, 
quickened by the Holy Ghost, goes out in search of 
it through the door of prayer, and that swung wide 
open. Depend upon it, too, if this is the case, she 
will not return to you empty-handed. 

If any expect salvation with faith alone, and do as 
they please, they will be equally deceived. If the 
writer was to start for God's kingdom with a single 
team, he would venture with works in preference to 
faith, for James says (ch. 2 : 20), " Faith without 
works is dead '" ; but he nowhere says that works 
without faith is dead, but that he can show you 
faith with works. Verse 18. 

"Well," says one, "Rahab was justified by faith, 
being a harlot." True; Paul says so (Heb. 11 : 31). 
But James says (2 : 25), that it was works that justi- 
fied her. The fact is, when they work as they ought, 
they look and act so much alike it is hard telling the 
one from the other. As soon as Rahab's faith kin- 
dled, she went to work in earnest. Paul treats of 
justification before God, and James treats of justifies 



162 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

tion shown before men; there is no disagreement; 
both are in harmony. 

Faith and works ought to bear. the same relation to 
each other as the two prongs of the compasses, pin- 
ioned at the top ; one of which — faith — resting on 
the promises of God, and the other — works — reach- 
ing out into the world, describes a radius of such 
unending glory that men will ever seek the Center of 
such wondrous power. 



FAITH AND RESULTS. 

Out of the heart are the issues of life, 
works correspond with his faith. Do you know it ? 
A man acts out his belief ; not what he professes to 
believe, but what he really believes. If some men 
were to act out what they professed to believe, they 
would be firebrands for God in their community. 
How grandly the works would turn out. But it is 
not their belief, you see; it is their profession — 
heartless profession. Like a deserted house, haunted 
with evil — there is nobody living in it. The house 
is ail right enough ; all it needs is an abiding tenant, 
one who will come to stay. " It does not make any 
difference what we believe if we are only good." 
How kind of clever that sounds, does it not? But 
that preamble was drawn up in Satan's congress. 
How very like it sounds to that other comforting as- 
surance of the tempter in Eden : — " Ye shall not 
surely die," etc. It is a waste 6i words to say that it 
does not make any difference what we believe if we 
are only good. Of course it does not. It does not 



FAITH AND WORKS. 163 

make any difference what cause you have as long as 
you get the effect ; but cause and effect are some- 
what related. 

The man who does not believe in the existence of 
that God whose all-seeing eye scans the universe 
which He has made, will get so in time that he will 
act accordingly. He will go all up and down this 
land blaspheming His name. " Corrupt are they, 
and have done abominable iniquity" — these fools 
who say in their heart there is no God. What shall 
we say of him who continually blurts it right out. 
There is none among them that doeth good. 

Faith, real faith in God — not mere profession of 
faith — is what sets the wheels in motion for good. 
That may be an excellent motive that man has who 
is trying to do that piece of work by sheer muscle 
force which any mechanic knows can only be done 
by Titanic power; but, brother, it is a waste of 
energy. Pat the derrick-hooks of faith and love 
on to that burden, brother; and let the hoisting 
engine talk to it while you rest in Christ. Up and 
away it goes to where it belongs so easily! " Mest in 
the Lord." How? Not by doing the big job of 
your own salvation by hand, and sink it deeper every 
time you lift. Connect your faith on to divine 
power ! Give the Everlasting Arm a chance under- 
neath that burden; then you begin to settle down 
and see how nicely you are relieved. 

Making a Christian character is something like 
making cloth ; the goodness of the web depends 
upon the yarn you use. There is many a man who 
fancies that he can work off his old shoddy into a 
first-class article ; but it soon gets out at the elbows. 
Put better material on the beam and in the shuttle, 



164 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

brother, if you would have your life turn out " all 
wool." Folks who have been accustomed to look at 
your former life with disgust will then come around 
and examine it, and exclaim, "Ah ! this is different ; 
this is as it should be ? " 



CONSISTENCY. 

Consistency is said to be a jewel; and so it seems 
as you take a look around at the inconsistencies that 
are on every side. No eulogy pronounced over the 
deceased gives such pleasure to the hearer as to say 
truthfully that " he was a consistent Christian." 

Consistency is but another name for rationality, 
harmony, agreement ; and by the statement that a 
man lives or dies "a consistent Christian," we do. 
not mean consistent or harmonious with the precepts 
and sj^irit of the world, for the world is at enmity 
with God. Men of the world will be apt to think an 
earnest Christian a very inconsistent person. But 
we mean that a Christian's life should be consistent 
with his talk. His conversation should be in har- 
mony with Christian truth, and his behavior such 
that he shall be harmonious in himself. One man or 
woman with stentorian voice will say, I have faith in 
this or that, but they should remember that the well- 
balanced Apostle James said, "I will show my faith 
by my works." It is a convincing way to show it, is 
it not ? It is the right way, it is the reasonable way. 
Belief should be followed closely with acts to be of 
any potency for good. 

Here is a man who comes along, and says to the 



FAITH AND WORKS. 165 

halting, " Why halt ye ? that bridge is strong enough 
to cross." Well, if he at once starts up his heavy 
team to cross, he is showing his faith by his works ; 
but if he shies off some other way, his faith is no 
better than the doubter's, who will not stir. Keep 
up with your statements, brother. Let not your 
tongue get much the start of your hands and feet. 

Noah was a consistent man. With him it was ark, 
arh^ ARK, from early morning till late at night, with 
hammer and voice. He did not talk ark, and act real 
estate. It was " sink or swim " with him, to use an 
apt and common phrase. What he built preached 
the solemn doom of a coming watery deluge in its 
very architecture. They say it does not make any 
difference what we preach or believe if we do right. 
Well, it did with Noah. The echo of his hammer 
on Monday did not seem to say, " You lied yester- 
day," as well it might if he had hammered differ- 
ently Monday, as it often does in the hammering of 
men nowadays. How it would have looked in Noah 
to have preached an imminent, watery deluge that 
should drown all the world, and then to have nego- 
tiated betimes for cargoes of pig-lead, iron, and un- 
derpinning for houses I 

Oh, you say, it does not make any difference what 
we believe or preach if we only do right. Well, 
would it not ordinarily have been doing right to 
have been engaged in the pig-iron and underpinning 
traffic ? They " bought, sold and builded " in those 
days. You can readily observe that what would be 
doing right, or acting consistently, depends just on 
what we believe or jDreach, if our faith is good for 
anything, and if we really believe and preach the 
truth. 



166 CRUMBS OF THE BKEAD OF LIFE. 

REPENTANCE. 

John the Baptist did not come driving the 
Gospel home to the hearts and consciences of men 
wrong end foremost, telling them of " the sweet bye 
and bye," and of the " many mansions " for folks 
who need not be troubled on account of sin. Nor 
did Christ, of whom John was the forerunner. John 
came j^reaching, "and saying. Repent ye, for the 
kingdom of Heaven is at hand." Matt. 3:2. Soon 
"Jesus began to preach and to say. Repent : for the 
kingdom of Heaven is at hand." Matt. 4 : 17. The 
glorious Gospel of the blessed God gets into the 
hearts and lives of men best when it follows up the 
steel point of that Word which produces Gospel re- 
pentance. You may spread as much India ink as 
you are a mind to on the outside of a man's skin, 
and it soon washes off ; but prick him, and rub it in, 
and it grows in, heals up, and becomes a part of him, 
leaving an image behind which time does not efface. 
So the Gospel is intended to reach the inner con- 
sciousness of men, discovering unto them that guilt 
of sin and producing such conviction as brings about 
a godly sorrow for sin which worketh repentance not 
to be repented of. 2 Cor. 7 : 10, 11. 

Repentance is the terms of the Gospel. Its bene- 
fits come to man in consideration of his hearty repent- 
ance of all his sins, with full purpose to amend his 
life in the future. Repentance and faith in the 
atoning Lamb of God brings the divine forgiveness 
of all our sins, and fills the heart with unutterable 
peace and joy with the Creator, with all mankind, 
and even with nature itself. But works worthy of 
amendment of life must ever follow on our part to 



FAITH AND WOEKS. 167 

claim the blessings of God's part of this gracious 
covenant of mercy. 

God in times past suffered all nations to walk in their 
own ways. Acts. 14 : 16. He gave them up unto their own 
hearts' lust : and they walked in their own counsels. Ps. 
81: 12. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; 
but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: be- 
cause He hath appointed a day in the which He will judge 
the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath 
ordained; whereof He hath given assurance to all men, in 
that He hath raised Him from the dead. Acts 17: 30, 31. 
All men everywhere must repent because all have sinned 
and come short of the glory of God. Kom. 3: 23. 

That takes in you and me. You hnoio that you 
have sinned, but you are trying to justify yourself 
with one subterfuge and another, and all in vain. 
But there is God's way, which is to be 

justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is 
in Christ Jesus : whom God hath set forth to be a propitia- 
tion through faith in His blood to declare His righteousness 
for the remission of sins that are past through the forbear- 
ance of God; to declare, I say, at this time His righteous- 
ness : that He might be just and the justifier of him that 
believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting, then? It is ex- 
cluded. By what law ? Of works ? Kay ; but by the law 
of faith. Kom, 3: 24-27. 

Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of 
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive 
the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you 
and to your children and to all that are afar off even as 
many as the Lord our God shall call. Acts 2 : 38, 39. 

That means you and me down here in the nine- 
teenth century, reader. " Save yourselves from this 
untoward generation " by availing yourself of God's 
means of salvation. 



1G8 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins 
may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall 
come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3 : 19. 

To repent after a godly sort is not to have " a sor- 
row of the world," which is in modern parlance 
called " the blues," which may lead to death by lauda- 
num or revolvers, but it is to have " a godly sorrow " 
for sin, which comes by hearing the Gospel preached 
— and being thereby convicted of sin and a judg- 
ment to come — and a determination to take Christ 
by faith as our Savior and our Counsel, and to quit 
our former course of life. It may take many tears, 
groans and cries to produce all this, and it may take 
but few. Experiences in sin are somewhat varied. 
The Gospel hits us in different spots and at various 
angles. The way to do is when you are hit, run 
home to God as quick as you see Him, by the nearest 
cut, regardless of somebody's sectarian clover patch ; 
and never minding how that other fellow got there. 
Results are what is wanted. A beautiful, peaceful 
June morning is what we want for fruit growing. 
Then let the frost come out and the water courses 
run full to overflowing until it comes. Are you 
there, reader ? At peace with God ? Then there 
abide, and " have your fruit unto holiness and the 
end everlasting life." 



OBEDIENCE. 

Obedience is the first step toward our restoration 
to God's favor, since disobedience was what brought 
His disfavor. God made the law of loyalty, and 
man broke it ; He also made the plan of salvation, 



OBEDIENCE. 169 

and man must obey it. Publishers of the plan of sal- 
vation to others need to be careful that they are obe- 
dient in preaching what God has told th/em^ as well as 
to exhort their hearers to obey what they tell them. 

Obedience does not mean that common folks must 
obey God, and learned preachers do as they have a 
mind to. Obedience is the stepping-stone to salva- 
tion, and "unto whomsoever much is given shall 
much be required." God has not left the way to sal- 
vation to human deduction and calculation. He has 
made the way Himself, and they who point it out to 
others will be held responsible that they obey Him. 

It may require a man of more knowledge to point 
out a way than it does for a man to simply walk in 
it ; but such knowledge must come chiefly from the 
Builder and Maker, otherwise it may prove worse 
than none at all. 

I have no idea that Noah was the most learned ar- 
chitect and builder in his day, but he had confidence 
enough in God to know that He knew how an ark of 
salvation ought to be made, and he was not so wise 
in his own conceit but that he could obey God when 
He said, " This is the fashion which thou shalt make 
it." I have no doubt that every pleasant day, while 
Noah was at work on that mighty ship, he had many 
learned spectators. But critics do not disturb a ser- 
vant of God any, when the plan is so clearly laid 
down, as it was there. For all their criticizing did 
not change tilings an iota ; and they were destroyed 
with the rest. Obedience sets people at work, not to 
designing or inventing. I suppose they brought up 
all manner of scientific objections to the construction 
of Noah's vessel that they do now with the plain, 
simple, God-revealed plan of salvation. Probably 



170 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

the idealistic were there, making suggestions as to 
ornament, figure-head, etc. Likely as not there were 
many who would have had Noah give an evening 
party and dance on deck as soon as the floor was laid. 
We read : — " J.5 it was in the days of Noah, so shall 
it be in the end of this world." Noah had a heav- 
enly calling, and how he must have been tried ! How 
he must have prayed to God for grace for further 
work! But he obeyed God in his worh^ and con- 
demned the world. Are you doing so ? 



THE SPIRIT-GOVERNMENT. 

But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 
Gal. 5: 18. 

Man in his probational state has of necessity been 
the subject of divine government. In his primeval 
state " he heard the voice of the Lord God walking 
in the garden in the cool of the day." But he ran 
and hid because he had sinned ; he had broken the 
law which had been given him. The government of 
God was then direct and personal — face to face — 
God speaking vocally to him ; and probably this sys- 
tem would have continued throughout his probation 
had not his continued sinfulness and perversity made 
other methods necessary. What a happy probational 
existence, it seems to me, man might in this way have 
led with his Maker, walking and talking with him as 
a child with a parent. But if he could not bear the 
presence of the Lord with the remembrance of one 
sin, what must be done when it became multiplied? 



OBEDIENCE. 171 

God took Himself from his presence after a while, 
communicating with him in various ways, until he 
raised up the man Moses, who became pure and sanc- 
tified enough to go up into the mount alone, and bear 
enough of the presence and voice of God to receive 
a law for the government of the rest. And thus 
He governed them by patriarchs, kings, judges and 
prophets, until Christ, His own Son, came. He said, 
" They will reverence My Son." But they did not — 
they slew Him. Nevertheless, in so doing they filled 
up the measure of the cup of human depravity, and 
fulfilled the purpose of God ; and " God raised Him 
from the dead " — " for our justification " — and 
"Christ is the end of the. law for righteousness to 
everyone that believeth." Rom. 10: 4. "And be- 
cause ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of 
His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." 
Gal. 4 : 6. 

We are now under the leading of the Spirit — the 
Spirit-government. We are no longer " under tutors 
and governors," who would have us do this, that and 
the other, and avoid everything else. Instead of 
governing us at arm's length by the law, God has 
taken us home to His heart, who accept the sacrifice 
of His dear Son to redeem us who were under the 
law. A new order of things is instituted for us; 
instead of rubbing on the law-ointment outside, we 
have taken the blessed remedy inside. Christ is in 
us to rule, order and direct ; we are under the reign 
of the Spirit. Emphatically we are led by the Spirit, 
and we have no business outside of its leading. How 
does it lead? By "the Word of faith," which is the 
work of the Spirit ; but not by the law, for the Spirit 



172 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

had no hand in it. " Received ye the Spirit by the 
works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Gal. 
3: 2. 



« WILLING FOR A SEASON." 

Christ's testimony of John was this : " He was a 
burning and shining iight " ; and His testimony 
against the Jews follows it : " and ye were willing 
for a season to rejoice in his light." By the grace of 
God, John did get up a grand revival work there 
among the Jews. John was naturally a revival 
preacher. He was not much of a disputant over 
technical points of doctrine, but he constantly re- 
ferred to the coming of the Lord, and affirmed that 
his business was to prepare the way for that great 
event. There was nothing particularly objectionable 
about that, for they all believed in the coming One ; 
and that, too, nigh at hand. They could bear John's 
notions of the Advent very well, as long as they 
were allowed their own ideas of it, their conceptions 
of it having not yet been tested. There had been so 
much sham piety on all sides that the majority in 
the church had become sick of it, and the crack of 
John's practical whip fell on the ears of church mem- 
bers, who had once known what good religion was 
worth. And when the church took hold, of course 
the mass of sinners, who had been looking at them 
so long for fruits worthy of amendment to life, fell 
into Gospel line with a good will. The result be- 
came a sweeping revival of genuine religion. " Then 
went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the 
region round about Jordan, confessing their sins." 



OBEDIENCE. 173 

It was a rejoicing time, as all revivals of pure relig- 
ion are and should be. The tide was going out ; and 
every unfortunate voyager who had become beached 
by unskillful navigation, and every idle sailor who 
had been loitering about scenes of pleasure, embraced 
the time to embark for deeper piety. There may 
have been a few musty old professors who long had 
been serving God with their heads and the world 
with their hearts, who may have muttered some over 
the " excitement," but as a general thing it was a pop- 
ular wave that swept everybody before it. Such 
scenes are admirable to every lover of the Lord and 
His work, and very rare. 

But the sequel of the story is yet to come, and is 
not so pleasant. Though there is no reason why 
loyal hearts cannot " rejoice in the Lord always," 
there comes a testing time close upon the trail of 
every revival. There are times when there appears 
but one light, and everybody seems happy in walking 
along in its effulgence, but for those who lean to 
worldly wisdom and disdain to look sharp for wis- 
dom's narrow path, there comes ere long a fork in 
the road. Unless loyalty reigns in every heart, there 
will be a separation ; many to go in the " broad " but 
dark path " to destruction ; " and a few, who will 
" walk in the light," for the light goes but that one 
way — into "the narrow way which leadeth to life." 

There came such a time as the sequal of this 
ancient revival. Though John had pulled hard and 
long at the practical oar, his wherry was by no means 
going round and round, making no progress in the 
divine stream. No, as all revivalists, should, and as 
the Spirit guides, he had shown them "things to 
come." He preached the literal coming of Christ. 



174 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

The time came when this popular John must 
'' decrease," and Him that should come after him 
" increase." Oh, the unwelcome news ! John truly- 
preached His coming, but we do not learn by the 
scribes that our Messiah is to come this way. Truly, 
our God requires honest religion, and we have of 
course acknowledged it during the revival as a nec- 
essary preparation to meet the Messiah ; but we look 
for a Deliverer to come in majesty^ and cast off this 
galling Roman yoke, and establish our nation, and 
reign in beloved Jerusalem gloriously. This is not 
the Christ." "Away with Him"! Thus rang out 
the voice of those who ''were willing for a season to 
rejoice in the light." Thus said the learned and 
noble, notwithstanding the convincing appeals of 
Mary's Son, as the One of whom John bore witness, 
and the Scriptures declared from Moses down, that 
He they must accept and follow. Here was the 
grand crisis in Jewish destiny. Will they bear the 
cross and follow that lowly Nazarene ? How cut- 
ting! In spite of all argument and such works, 
which for them alone they should believe, they reject 
Him. "Ye will not come unto Me that ye might 
have life." "But the common people heard Him 
gladly." 

These learned Jews backslid over a doctrine which 
formed the present truth, as most learned people gen- 
erally do. People of meager minds generally back- 
slide over what forms no adequate test to him unto 
whom much in the way of intelligence has been 
given. But doctors and deacons must learn humility 
as well as others, and if, in His goodness, Christ must 
stoop to the lowest strata of society in order to save 
them, it will not hurt them to bend their dignity, and 



OBEDIENCE. 175 

work with Him. So the doctrine of the divinity of 
Mary's Son proved a stumbling block in the way of 
the spiritually blind Scribes and Pharisees. They 
ceased to "walk in the light"; and fellowship with 
them ceased on the part of Christ. See His farewell 
sermon, Matthew 23. 

Well, the doctrine of Jesus' divinity, though by 
some disputed, now, is pretty generally accepted. 
Christ has outlived His personal unpopularity, as 
most any true disciple of His can in time by " follow- 
ing in His steps." But the offence of the cross has 
not ceased. Shall we look for " this same Jesus " to 
soon literally appear in the same manner as they saw 
Him disajDpear ? is the trying truth which stands at 
the fork of the divine and worldy roads. The di- 
vines "will rejoice for a season," till you come to 
that separating guideboard. All goes well in revival 
work, till the hope of a soon descending Christ sepa- 
rates the chaff from the wheat. " Ye did run well 
[for a season] ; who did hinder you that ye should 
not obey the truth?" "Oh, foolish [modern] Gala- 
tians, who hath bewitched you that ye should not 
obey the truth ? " 



CONTENTION AND OBEDIENCE. 

We saw, the other day, an apt illustration of the 
difference between a contention over disputed points 
of doctrine and an earnest practical obedience. A 
little girl of seven summers contended very sharply 
for her mother's will concerning the way her doll was 
dressed, which another girl essayed to change a little. 



176 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

But that same girl is not half so particular to please 
her mother in a practical way when told to do some- 
thing for her. How much like some of the Lord's 
children — those of a larger growth! You would 
think that they were the most careful persons that 
ever lived regarding the will of the Lord as they 
contend over some technicality of minor importance ; 
but a little observation of them in the line of practi- 
cal obedience will change your opinion. 

There are some of whom we have heard it said, 
speaking of physical matters, that " they rather fight 
than eat." This is true of many others mentally. 
From the huge buffalo of the plain who contends for 
the mastery of the herd, down to the merest bantam 
rooster, there is among all animate nature a passion 
to see who shall be smartest. Crossing the line into 
humanity and we see the same love of fight. What 
one lacks in muscle he can make up in tongue. 

Now this instinct in the beasts, and the organ of 
combativeness in mankind, was put there by the all- 
wise Creator and is for a use. We are not to " bite 
and devour one another," but no doubt there is some 
use for our combativeness, when sanctified to God, in 
"contending for the faith once delivered to the 
saints." Jude 1. Yet a fair share of our strength in 
that line should be bestowed upon "the world, the 
flesh, and the Devil " (excluding self) in the practi- 
cal line. The people of God will never " see eye to 
eye" till the perfect day comes; and instead of 
spending our whole force in that line, or so that it 
forms the main topic of our minds, let us pay some 
attention to the real Devil. 

" Christian character, the only test of fellowship," 
is a good rule, and provides that all who act like 



PAKDON. 177 

Christians are with us, no matter how little or how 
much they know. An army that spent its whole time 
in the camp on tactics would not be very efficient 
in putting down a rebellion or getting their liberty. 
A Putnam from the plow with an object to be gained, 
is better than a starched-up cadet from West Point 
whose main aim is hair-splitting over tactics. When 
there is nothing else to do, drill and study the tactics, 
but keep up picket duty ; and when a chance offers, 
rally the enemy and take some prisoners. Remem- 
ber to be fully as careful of the Lord's will concern- 
ing your practical daily duties to Him and to men, as 
with His truth which you are to defend. 



FORGIVING AND FORGETTING. 

" I CAisr forgive but I cannot forget," is the expres- 
sion of many when allusion is made to an offender. 
Of course it is not expected that you will forget it as 
a mere circumstance, but you will, if you truly 
forgive, forget it as remembering it in any sense 
against them. Forgiving and forgetting are some- 
what nearer relatives than cousins. The forgiveness 
of many is just none at all. It is no more than sim- 
ply a cessation of open hostilities, while the same 
hatred is treasured up in the memory. And so the 
above expression crops oat with a curl of the lip and 
a toss of the head. But the amount of forgiveness 
is indicated by the power to forget. 

It so happens that all of us need an abundance of 

forgiveness by One above ; and " with what measure 

we mete, it shall be measured to us again." We are 
8* 



178 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

taught to pray to Him like this, after properly ad- 
dressing Him : — " Forgive us our tresjDasses as we 
forgive them that trespass against «^5." Now turn 
the case around. How should we feel to hear the 
Almighty in Heaven say to the Son, who is there as 
our intercessor, regarding some offence of ours, "I 
can forgive, but I cannot forget," when Jesus wished 
to advance us to a higher position in the world in 
His work ? Let the Lord say it, too, with the same 
air of nonchalance. But He does not do that way. 

Let us see how He forgives. He has considerable 
to say about this forgetting an offence in connection 
with forgiving. 

I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their 
sin no more. Jer. 31: 34: Heb. 8: 12, and 10: 17. As far 
as the east is from tlie west, so far hath he removed our 
transgressions from us. Ps. 103 : 12. 

The forgiveness of the Lord restores the offender 
to his first estate and privileges, because it is 
complete. 

How unlike some peoples ! The Lord " blots out 
our transgressions," so that they are unreadable ; we 
let the writing stand, and consider that we are doing 
the fair thing by scoring underneath the entry, "for- 
given," or giving credit on the opposite page. If we 
have been forgiven by the Lord, and are lost at last, 
it will not be because of the old score ; it will be be- 
cause of a new debt contracted under grace. 

But humanity forgives, and then when another 
unpleasantness occurs, the old is all raked up again. 

This subject is well illustrated in the parable of 
the Savior, regarding the king and his servants. 
Matt. 18: 23-35. The bankrupt servant, when he 



OBEDIENCE. 179 

was to be sold, wife, children, and all that he had, to 
pay the debt, fell down in repentance, and begged 
the lord to be patient with him, and he would pay all. 
"But the same servant went out, and found one of 
his fellow-servants which owed him a hundred pence 
(a much less sum) ; and he laid his hands on him, 
and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou 
owest." And this servant begged of him the same as 
he did of the lord, but he would not forgive him, and 
cast him into prison. They went and told the lord, 
who delivered this wretch to the tormentors. " So 
likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, 
if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his 
brother their trespasses." 

Oh, let us learn the length and breadth of divine 
forgiveness toward us, and pray that part of the 
Lord's Prayer from the heart, and show forth the 
fruits unto those who have offended us. 



PROMISE AND PERFORMANCE. 

There are those whose promises are better than 
their performances. They are always ready to prom- 
ise most anything without stopping to reflect on the 
cost of its fulfillment. Reined up to duty on a sick 
bed, or in some way or other, hj the Lord, they will 
promise like good fellows, that if they ever get out 
of that fix they will do the right thing — serve the 
Lord, in a public manner, the remainder of their 
days. Well, they do get out of it ; the Lord holds 
the promise, waiting in mercy for its tardy perform- 
ance. Unpaid when it was due, the promise has 
come to be good for nothing* 



180 CRUMBS OP THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

There are others, in all walks of life, who are tre- 
mendous servants of the Lord hy promise, New 
Year's day comes around, and there is a wonderful 
resurvey of boundaries between themselves and good 
and evil. New stakes are stuck, and altogether there 
is such an air of real business shown as never before. 
But these folks are New Year's day Christians, or 
temperance or tobacco abstainers. 

There are others who, when there is a pledge list 
going around at some Camp-meeting or Conference, 
will talk out by promise loudly ; but it will cost 
nearly as much as the amount of their pledge, in 
paper, postage stamps, printing and worrying, - to 
wring it out of them in a year or two following. 

Now a promise is good if it is faithfully kept; but 
otherwise it is good for nothing.^ Jesus never was 
very much enthusiastic over folks' promises. He 
would rather see a poor widow put her two mites 
into the treasury than to have the promise of a tricky 
landlord for a thousand dollars. "A bird in the hand 
is worth two in the bush " is an old saying, not with- 
out point in these matters. The Lord Jesus did not 
come into the world to get folks to promise to follow 
him, but to act. He felt better when an ignorant 
fisherman dropped his net and started in the heav- 
enly calling, than to hear the promises of willing 
scribes ; or of those of His disciples who had dead 
relations to bury, or other duties to first attend to. 
" No man having put his hand to the plow, and look- 
ing back is fit for the kingdom of God." 

It is a noteworthy fact that the regular servants of 
God, who by words professed to love Him, when 
Christ came into the world, they by works denied 
Him ; and He had to call and convert publicans and 



OBEDIENCE. 181 

sinners to preach the trying truths of His Gospel. 
Those " regular army " soldiers of God were excel- 
lent hands to go through the camp-routine of Jewish 
tactics, but when Christ came and ordered them to 
the front where there was some danger, they sang 
another tune. The Lord, in every dispensational 
work, must and will have servants to preach the try- 
ing truth of that hour: and if those who long ago 
said to Him, '' I go, sir," and when the trying hour 
comes do not stand to the front, they will be con- 
demned ; and those who by word and act, recogniz- 
ing the cross-bearing way, have said, " I will not go, 
sir," and yet repent and do the Master's will, are 
those who will enter into the joy of their Lord. 

It is acts that the Lord wants ; not merely prom- 
ises. Profession is good, but performance is better. 
As with those who never have been in the way — 
and promise the Lord and fail to perform, so with 
those who are already in the way — even ministers 
who profess to love the Lord, but in works deny 
Him. 

Temporally speaking, a public servant is holden 
with a solemn promise of faithful j^erformance ; much 
more so they who are the servants of God. They 
who refuse to promise or to serve are much more 
guiltless, than those who promise and serve not. 
"They that know the way but refuse to walk therein, 
shall be beaten with many stripes." Be careful of 
your promises, sinner ; be careful you also who are 
about to enter, and you who have entered the minis- 
try. The Master has advised you to sit down and 
" first count the cost." He wants your promises, but 
much more your performances. " There are last 
which shall be first ; and there are first which shall 
be last." 



182 CEUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

BAPTISM. 

And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, 
and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. 
Acts 22: 19. 

Baptism should follow close upon true Gospel 
repentance. Waiting here to see if we will hold out 
is like a blacksmith, taking the iron all sparkling with 
heat, from the furnace, and laying it down awhile to 
see if it will hold the welding heat before he forges 
it into an article of utility. When God would take 
a sinner to mold into a vessel jSt for the Master's use, 
he wants no delays nor half-heartedness. But the ad- 
versary of our souls is ever alert for our downfall, 
and es-pecially here to introduce his motion for 
delay. Time enough ! Always time enough with 
him when there is any of the Lord's work to be at- 
tended to ; but a lightning's flash is none too quick 
for him when he has got a soul ready to shove into 
perdition. What ingenious arguments and seeming 
impossibilities the enemy will introduce here to keep 
us from the consummation of our marriage vow with 
the Lord Almighty. It is needless to review them at 
length, for they are legion, and vary as circumstances 
and persons differ. " You are not good enough yet." 
Who has not had that thrown in his face by the ad- 
versary when he would be baptized or partake of the 
Lord's Supper ? Who was ever good enough to suit 
the Devil, anyway, unless he was lukewarm, and a 
stench to the Almighty? "Apollyon" can preach 
holiness as well as ''Michael" when he fancies he 
can scare anybody to death with it. 

He who belie veth in the Lord Jesus as his Savior 
with all his heart — all he knows how — and has 



OBEDIENCE. 183 

heartily repented of all sin, is good enough to suit 
God as a subject for baptism ; and willing apostles of 
old were ever ready to execute it. Reading, preach- 
ing, failh, repentance and baptism occurred altogether 
on the return trip of the eunuch from Jerusalem to 
Ethiopia. That puts the work all in, puts the Devil 
out, and closes the bargain with a soul, and leaves 
the Devil outside, to get in if he can. Doubtless an 
earnest preacher, ever ready to obey God's call, was 
responsible for this prompt work. The cause would 
not spoil today with some of the same sort. 

"The same hour of the night" — in which the 
jailer received the Word — and nearly the same hour 
in which he beat the apostles' back raw with a Ro- 
man scourge, he was baptized, "he and all his 
straightway." But this was after he was willing to 
wash down the same backs which he had scourged — 
an evidence of true repentance. Now there is no 
evidence that the eunuch or the jailer's household 
joined the church that day, or thought of it, or was 
spoken to about it. Years ago, when they thought 
more of the welfare of the soul than of the increase 
of the sectarian fold, these things used to work bet- 
ter than they do now. Our advice is, if you do not 
see clearly what church to join, but must needs see 
your duty to be baptized if you have believed and 
repented, and cannot find one man ready to baptize 
you without joining his church, then go to another 
who will / and take up these duties as God presents 
them, and bide your time, and walk in the light at all 
hazards. 



184 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

WHO SHOULD BE BAPTIZED? 

" He that believeth," Mark 16:15. Or as 
Philip has it in addition : " If thoa believest with all 
thine heart thou raayest." Acts 8 : 37. " See, here 
is water ; what doth hinder me to be baptized ? " was 
the eunuch's inquiry. Now here was a good oppor- 
tunity for Philip to put in all the objections ; but 
there were none in this case. And the answer implies 
that the only hindrance in any case is unbelief and its 
consequent results. Why did not Philip advise the 
eunuch to wait until he got home to the royal house- 
hold that he might do greater good by bearing the 
cross before them? That servant probably knew 
what many do not appear to know today, that delays 
here are dangerous. 

Should not infants be baptized ? Yes, when they 
get old enough to believe in Christ and repent of 
their sins, if they have any, and know something. 
Does not the Bible say " Suffer little children to come 
unto me," etc. ? Yes, but baptism is not the first and 
only approach to Christ, if it were then there might 
be some pertinence in applying this text to the bap- 
tism of infants, to which it has no reference. Faith is 
the first approach to Christ, and when infants have 
got so as to exercise it in Him it will be time to 
baptize them. No Christian parent would keep his 
child from baptism or from preaching the Gospel 
when he got so he could do it intelligently. There 
are a thousand things that a parent may do to lead a 
child up to Christ in instruction before baptism is 
needed. The good wives will take care of the infants 
while we bend our energies to rescuing somebody's 
children who are growing up and going to the Devil 
at railroad speed. 



OBEDIENCE. 185 

Bat was not the jailer " and all bis" baptized that 
night? Acts 16: 33. Also Lydia "and her house- 
hold"? Acts 16: 15. "Also the household of Ste- 
phanus"? 1 Cor. 1 : 16. Yes; but that no more im- 
plies that there were infants there to be baptized than 
that there were grown up children who were sinners 
and were baptized without repentance. Where the 
Bible is silent we have no business to fill in our ideas 
as doctrines to bind others' consciences. There is no 
mention of infants and we have no business to infer 
anything contrary to other Scriptures which plainly 
declare that faith or belief is the stepping-stone to 
Gospel baptism.* 

But does not circumcision of the old law corre- 
spond to baptism in the new law, and is it not a figure 
of it? No ; if it were female infants as well as female 
adults would be left out. 

But does not tradition teach that it was received 
from the apostles and practised in all ages? Well, 
we are not following tradition. Well did the Psalm- 
ist write " Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a 
light unto my path." And our only words in addi- 
tion to this are Christ's words " In vain do they wor- 
ship Me teaching for doctrines the commandments of 
men." 

• Note. The Greek word ( infant ) signifies a minor, and is used in aU 
their histories, literature and legal titles, to embrace all, from a day old 
to twenty-five years. Law fixed the periods of infants ( minors ) in the 
Eoman Empire, after its division into the Eastern and Western, to em- 
brace all, to eighteen in some parts to twenty-five years in others. See 
Hist. Liiekature Db La France. 



186 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

BAPTISM — WHAT FOR? 

For what are we baptized ? Not to initiate us into 
the church, as is popularly supposed. " Ye are all 
children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." Gal. 3 : 
26. " For as many as have been baptized into Christ 
have put on Christ." Verse 27. It is one thing to 
be baptized in water, and quite another thing to be 
regenerated by the Holy Spirit "into Christ," pro- 
ducing that oneness in Him where there is neither 
Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor female. It 
is. faith that gives us sonship in the family of God, 
and is the only absolute essential to salvation. Other 
things are matters of obedience in walking in the 
light, such as confessing Christ with the mouth, bap- 
tism, partaking of the communion, preaching, accept- 
ing new truth, etc. The open door, which God has 
put before the race, no man can shut nor open. He 
has charge of that. If men will deny us baptism at 
their hands, because we will not assent to their creeds, 
God's door is yet open, and there are seven thousand 
who have not yet bowed the knee to Baal. The 
church of God is not an order which has an initiation 
performance to get into it by ; nor is baptism the 
door of it. I care not how many rules and regula- 
tions sectarians may get uj), Christ is the door^ and by 
faith in Him we may enter in and find pasture, if they 
shut us out. Christ and the barren rocks of Patmos 
are better feed than Caesar and Rome can afford us 
without Him. 

Baptism is not merely the outward expression of an 
inward faith. It is " the answer of a good conscience 
toward God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." 1 
Pet. 3: 21. The conscience is involved. How can a 



OBEDIENCE. 187 

person have a good conscience and disregard light on 
this matter regarding the significance of baptism, and 
do as they please ?• You would not kill a dog who 
gave you warning of danger, but you stifle and choke 
down conscience. 

Baptism is a saving ordinance in the line of obedi- 
ence to God. 

The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now 
save us, etc. 1 Pet. 3: 21. 

How can one rejoice in " full salvation," and disre- 
gard the command of Christ to be baptized when we 
have had opportunity ? We need not try to excuse 
ourselves that we are waiting for light or for feelings 
in the face of plain commands. Obey God, and let 
feelings take care of themselves. 

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved ; but he 
that believeth not shall be condemned. Mark 16 : 16. 

Following repentance, and in obedience to the 
cleansing power of the Word, baptism washes away 
sins. The Word of the Lord by Ananias to Paul 
(Acts 22 : 16) so declared. 

Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins. Kepent 
and be baptized for the remission of sins. Acts 2 : 38. 

From these and other Scriptures (John 3 : 5, Eph. 
5 : 26, Heb. 10. : 22) we can readily see that we have 
no right to claim the cleansing of sin through faith in 
the Word spoken (John 15 : 3, and Eph. 5: 26) with- 
out obeying what the Word says about the manner 
and importance of baptism, when we have the oppor- 
tunity. Oh, the wail of wasted opportunity that will 
come from the rejected at last is saddening to think 
of now. Let us be wise for ourselves if the simple 



188 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

do pass on and are punished. Take no risks in eter- 
nal salvation where plain duty is involved. "He that 
would be My disciple let him take up his cross and 
follow Me," says Christ. Have you followed Him. 
down into and up "out of" the water? 



BAPTISM — WHAT MODE? 

How should believers be baptized ? By immer- 
sion, with one act. Why by immersion ? Because 
(1) it is a faith-picture of death and resurrection — 
our death to sin and raising to a new life, and also our 
confession of faith that it is only by the power of 
God that we must be raised to life from the grave at 
the resurrection at the last day. In the teachings of 
the apostles baptism is ever associated with death, 
burial and resurrection. " Else what shall they do 
which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not 
at all ? Why are they then baptized for the dead ? " 
1 Cor. 15 : 29. As much as to say, if there is no lit- 
eral resurrection of the dead, why prefigure it by 
baptism? "What shall they do " if there is no res- 
urrection or if the doctrine falls out of teaching? 
But we are to be " baptized for the dead," Christ, in 
memory of His death. If the dead saints could 
speak they would doubtless say, Show your faith in 
the resurrection, for that is your only way out when 
you get in here. It is hardly needful to add that 
we do not accept the abomination of the Romish 
doctrine of purgatory, nor of any other teaching 
which indicates that the dead know anything or are 
benefited by our action. 



OBEDIENCE. 189 

Again, Buried ^ith. Him [Christ] in baptism, wherein 
also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the opera- 
tion of God, who hath raised Him from the dead." CoL 
2: 12. 

No other Scripture would seem to be necessary to 
teach the mode of baptism. But if we need more we 
can find it in Rom. 6 : 4, 5. 

Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into 
death : that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by 
the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in 
newness of life. For if we have been planted together in 
the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness 
of His resurrection. 

(2) We believe in baptism by immersion be- 
cause that alone is baptism; that is the meaning of 
the term — to dip. And so we read in the Emphatic 
Diaglott of " John the Dipper," etc. 

(3) Because that was the method in New Testa- 
ment times, and according to reliable authority, until 
the twelfth century. We wait for an edict from a 
higher authority to change it than we have yet heard 
from. 

And they went down into the water, both Philip and the 
eunuch; and he baptized him. Acts 8: 38. 

It would not be necessary to " go down into the 
water" to sprinkle or pour a man ; besides, if we are 
to let circumstances dictate here, it would have been 
quite inconvenient for Philip or the eunuch, or for 
both, without previous preparation and on a journey. 

And John was baptizing in Enon near to Salim, because 
there was much water there : and they came, and were bap- 
tized. John 3: 23. 



190 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

It was a place of many springes, wells and fonts. 
Many springs make " much water." And it does not 
need " much water" to sprinkle or pour persons. A 
man can carry enough " holy water" from the pope in 
a keg to sprinkle or pour a crowd. 

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto Jolin, to 
be baptized of him. Matt. 3 : 13. 

Why gather to Jordan to be sprinkled? 

And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway 
out of the water. Matt, 3 : 16. 

No scholar now claims, said Dean Stanley, substan- 
tially, that New Testament baptism was anything else 
but immersion. Their claim is that they have the 
right or privilege to innovate here. We demur. 

(4) We are waiting to hear from some one who 
has been immersed, and is dissatisfied with it, and 
wants to be sprinkled to feel satisfied. We are very 
often witnesses of the truth of the reverse of this. 
Why not take the sure, safe, right way, and save time 
and trouble, and have peace all along? 

(5) We believe in one immersion as opposed to 
trine iramersionists, because (1) that is all that the 
Bible records, and (2) that is ''in the likeness of His 
[Christ's] death." Christ died and was buried, and 
was raised o?ice, as the firstfruits of the great harvest 
to follow. (3) *' In the name of the Father and of 
the Son and of the Holy Ghost" requires but one act, 
if all are mentioned in it; as a firm of three men in 
joint partnership requires but one bill of sale to be 
executed to the buyer of an article of them, when all 
are mentioned in it. 

" One Lord, one faith, one baptism." Eph. 4 : 5. 



THE HOLY SPIRIT. 191 

THE HOLY GHOST. 

God walked and talked with Adam in the cool of 
the day. Latterly Christ was made flesh and dwelt 
amongst us. He did not come to take up His final 
abode with us. He came on an errand — a mighty 
errand — and has returned whence He came. But 
He has not left us comfortless, He promised to return. 
John 14: 3, 18,23. Nevertheless, in the vacancy that 
should intervene, He said another Comforter should 
be given us, that would not only dwell with us but be 
in us, and teach us all things, and bring all things to 
our remembrance whatsoever He had said. 

Whether the Holy Ghost be a person or direct 
influence from God, this we know, He is invested 
with full power from on high to transact all the busi- 
ness of this age, relative to the next. He is the loyal 
heart's teacher, prompter, comforter. He takes up 
His abode with us — in us — when the body is unde- 
filed ; ever prompting us as to our duties, and com- 
forting us by bringing all the promises to our 
remembrance. 

It is the power that enables us to pray aright, to 
speak aright, to siug aright. In olden times they 
used to worship God "by hand" (and that is too 
much the case now), but during the apostolic age, and 
since we have been blest with power direct from the 
main shaft, it is no use for people to persist in hand 
worship. To "a workman that needeth not to be 
ashamed" such worship is terribly bungling. Why, 
in this age, when many are running to and fro, and 
knowledge is increasing, when the Devil no longer 
does his work by hand, but with the most improved 
machinery, it is the height of foolishness to stick to 



192 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

the letter of the law without the quickening spirit; 
but it is important to belt on to the main shaft, for 
there is our only power to keep apace with evil men 
and seducers. In short, if the popular church expect 
the world's conversion before the second coming of 
Christ, it is high time they were settling down into 
Holy Ghost religion, for that is all that will do it. 

To have "a form of godliness, but deny the power 
thereof" (2 Tim. 3: 5J is evidently trying to worship 
God without the aid of the Holy Spirit. That n class 
is now fulfilling that, is true, and we should take heed 
that we fall not into the sickening snare. " For God 
is a spirit, and they that worship Him must worship 
Him in Spirit and in truth." 

To deny the power of the Holy Ghost is to cut off 
communication with God, but people do not wish to 
do that, however they may quench it — grieve it. It 
is believed in, of course, but not held in such esteem 
as it ought to be. It is admired as an ornament, and 
as such is laid on the table, put on a bracket, or set 
on a mantel, instead of being put into daily use — in- 
corporated into our lives. Its utility is all that is 
spoken of in Scripture, for no mighty work since 
Christ left us has been done without it. Read the 
accounts of Peter and Stephen and others in Acts. 

We believe that God has not withdrawn His Spirit 
from His true disciples yet, and it is at work. May 
God help us to enlarge its sphere of action by purify- 
ing ourselves, consecrating ourselves, deciding fur 
Holy Ghost religion or none. 



THE HOLY SPIEIT. 193 

CHRISTIAN POWER. 

Power is the origin of force, the first principle of 
action. In mechanics it is what produces motion, 
and nothing can be accomplished without it; hence its 
importance. A leaden bullet of itself is perfectly 
harmless unless force or power is used, and the quality 
or quantity of power is another important item. If 
violently thrown with the hand or in a sling, it will 
produce a serious effect. Yet more people will turn 
out for one sent off ahead of a teaspoonf al of powder. 
Yet powder is as harmless as mustard seed unless 
power or force is applied to it. An engine is a useless 
contrivance without the power of steam, and steam 
cannot be had without fire and water, and fire is pro- 
duced by friction, and friction by action. A boat 
rigged with huge sails is a laughing stock without the 
power of wind. A telegraph wire is of no more 
account than a clothes-line without the power of 
electricity. 

And so of all things the power is first to receive our 
consideration, or should be. The means in its use are 
necessary, of course, but are entitled to a great deal 
less honor. What does a law of the land amount to, 
unless backed up by civil or military power? It is 
easy to make the laws, but quite another thing to 
establish them at the bayonet's point. 

But to our subject. What is the Christian's 
power? What will a church, people or minister do 
in running divine machinery without power? Will 
God's laws ever be regarded by a lawless people 
unless promulgated and maintained by divine power ? 
Certainly not. And it is not to be done with carnal 
9 



194 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

weapons, but by the Holy Ghost. And when that 
accompanies the message it cuts to the heart. 

In the first place, how can a person attain to the 
height of Christian character laid down in the New 
Testament? Only by grace — power from God. 
Streams do not rise higher than the fountains th it 
produce them, and if a man of himself expects to 
leach the high mark of Christian life required, it will 
be vain ? it will be pump, pump, from beginning to 
end, at a dry well. If we expect to succeed as 
Christians in letting our light shine, in being living 
epistles, in resisting temptation, we must couple on to 
the divine reservoir of grace. Can we do it ? Is 
there a coupling that will join us ? Yes ; when we 
love the Lord God with all our heart and soul and 
mind, and our neighbor as ourself, we are joined to 
the great Reservoir. When people living in cities 
are destitute of water and want it, they apply to the 
authorities, and are at once coupled on to the reser- 
voir, and there is hence no more trouble. No pump- 
ing, but flowing water with great pressure all through 
the house, up and down; and they have it just as 
long as they comply with the conditions ; when they 
break them, somebody comes along, silently and unob- 
served, perhaps, and sticks a little wrench down int') 
a hole in the sidewalk and turns, and the water stops. 
And so it is with the Christian Spirit-taker — 
grace-taker. You can have the pressure on just as 
long as you comply with the several conditions ; if 
you do not, on goes the wrench. 

But the saddest phrase is that the professed chur<5h 
are in the prophetic place spoken of by the Apostle — 
" Having a form of Godliness, but denying the power 
thereof"; have so far lowered their character as to 



THE HOLY SPIRIT. 195 

regard the vehicle of more account than the power ; 
regard the pottery of more account than the treas- 
ures. Oh, for the power of the Holy Ghost ! We are 
sickened with this man power. Oh, for some one to 
smite the rock, that the waters may gush out! Jesus 
says, " Without Me ye can do nothing." Heaven 
forbid we should attempt any spiritual work without 
Him. We cannot so much as live an acceptable 
Christian life without this constant pressure of divine 
grace on us. How shall we go into His vineyard and 
work then ? " My grace is sufficient." So there is 
no excuse. We shall be " speechless " for any lack 
of activity in God's service here at the judgment bar. 



WAITING FOR POWER. 

Power is necessary for the accomplishment of cer- 
tain work. Alas ! it must be a hard day's work for a 
preacher to preach who realizes Ms need of divine 
power, but has not got it, unless he has got a big 
bump of self-conceit. In either case it will be a 
hard day's work to listen to him by those who are 
already partakers of divine things. Ah ! how that 
hymn, that prayer, that exhortation, that sermon, 
that pen goes when divine power is inditing and dic- 
tating. It goes itself instead of having to be pushed 
by hand like a fisherman's cart through the sand, and 
up hill at that. It is more than fooling away time to 
undertake to do the Lord's work in the mere strength 
of human wisdom without divine power. The Apos- 
tles were told to wait at Jerusalem until they were 
endued with power from on high. We had better 



196 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

wait than go without it. The man who waits at a 
station for a railroad train is getting ahead faster 
than he who starts ahead on foot. But then we need 
not wait for divine power just because the Apostles 
did ; it is ah-eady here and has been waiting for us 
over eighteen hundred years — waiting years for us 
individually. 

Slip on the belt, brother, and go to work ; the big 
wheel has been going for a long time, and don't stop 
just because we take away our little tools from the 
lathe. What would you think of a man who persisted 
in waiting at a station for a train which was already 
there with the old engine just groaning and trem- 
bling under power ? Well, you will say, he will get 
left. That is it exactly. There is many a man wait- 
ing for divine power to do a thing who has got left. 
God's spirit has gone to another man who was willing 
to start off with what he had to do the work, trusting 
for more. That man who waits in a den of vice for 
divine power to come down and take him up bodily 
and transplant him into a meeting-house as a full- 
fledged church member and superintendent of the 
Sunday-school, will be no more disappointed than 
any man who waits for God to miraculously com- 
mence a work which He is calling him to do. David 
said, " I have turned my feet into thy testimonies." 
It is curious how God will bless a man when that man 
begins to steer his feet in the right direction ; but 
there are some people whom you would never mis- 
trust were Christians by the way their toes are 
pointed most of the time. They mean to be Chris- 
tians but their feet do not point that way ; for when 
prayer-meeting night comes round, their toes are 
pointed toward the place of amusement or self-indul- 



THE HOLY SPIRIT. 197 

gence. It is a great thing to get a man all over to 
mean to be a Christian. 

]N^o, we need not wait for power ; we might pause 
till Aquila and Priscilla shall show us the way of God 
more perfectly. But we need not take our grist to 
mill to grind when we have got to wait for the fel- 
low to get up steam or wait for his pond to fill up 
with that little trickling stream. Go where the 
power groans for something to do ; go to headquar- 
ters ; go to God. 



« CHRIST IN YOU." 

The horse goes before the cart. The spiritual 
presence of Christ must be in the heart ahead of any 
attempts at knowing any farther doctrine. "I am 
determined not to know anything among you save 
Jesus Christ and Him crucified," wrote Paul to the 
Corinthians. They were cultured in other matters, 
and . there were other things they were itching 
to know, doubtless, but the one great need was to 
get this story into their souls. There are others that 
need nothing else to begin with at this late date. 
"There shall no sign be given to this wicked and 
adulterous generation but the sign of the prophet 
Jonas," said Christ to the Pharisees of His time. 
They were ever craving to know something except 
that very thing which they should know, and which 
was already plain enough. There is an end to divine 
humoring human spleen. 

If there is a plum pudding or mince pie on the 
table, the plate full of plain and profitable food is 



198 CRUMBS OF THE BKEAD OF LIFE. 

rejected by the disobedient, ill-brought-up child, and 
there is no end to the fussing till he gets it ; but the 
wise father says, "Eat that which is on your plate, or 
you can have nothing more." So God wisely treats 
His disobedient children. There is no skipping 
dishes of divine truth in the course, however unpala- 
table. God has the spiritual health and growth of 
His children in mind. 

"And be established in the present truth," says 
Peter. Mercantile houses take pride in advertising 
the antiquity of their establishments ; they paint in 
large letters at their places of business, or print on 
cards, or on bills : " Established in 1775," or the 
more remote the date the better. So the Pharisees 
of old run back their pedigree — " We have Abra- 
ham to our father, but as for this fellow [Christ] we 
know not from whence He is." There are musty 
moss-backs of Christians nowadays who never cease 
citing you back to the antiquity of their establish- 
ment, supposing that great credit is due them on that 
account. Drowsy souls ! they have waked up years 
behind the express train of divine truth. " Be estab- 
lished in the present truth." It is the present issue 
which is the living one, and one which makes live 
Christians. You cannot root down into divine power 
anywhere else. Let the tap root of faith run into 
present truth if you would reach the water of life for 
your thirsty, famishing soul. 

" If any man will do His will, he shall know of the 
doctrine." John 7:17. " This is the will of God, 
that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent," said 
Christ to the inquisitive Jews. They were always 
quizzing Him on doctrinal tenets, and got their match 
every time, which caused them to marvel. " How 



THE HOLY SPIBIT. 199 

knoweth this man letters, having never learned?" 
He had not graduated at the feet of the Rabbins in 
the regular order, but at the feet of Him who, if we 
do His will, will inform us about the doctrine through 
the insulated current of the Holy Spirit. "I have 
more understanding than all my teachers," said 
another, who had been at the same fountain. He 
who is partaking at the divine fountain of knowledge 
is a constant puzzle and surprise to others who know 
nothing of it. Said Joseph Parker (I think) "When 
the Holy Spirit makes its descent upon a church, look 
out for surprises." 

The stocking unravels when we get hold of the 
right end of the yarn and keep pulling. God's truth 
will get through the skull, as water burst through 
Moses' rock, when Christ by His Spirit gets into the 
heart. "Learn of Me," He said. Grand Teacher! 
How successful, when we take His lessons in their 
order, and especially when we first accept Sim! 
When a scholar goes to school he expects to meet 
something beside books ; he must have a personal 
acquaintance with the teacher. 

There is no end to the books and helps to divine 
knowledge that some men have, and yet probably the 
simple truth in Christ they have overlooked, as did 
the learned Jews. And there is probably another 
poor soul, but rich in faith, whose parentage was 
poor in this world's goods — thank God! — no money, 
no books except " the Book " — no college except a 
pile of rocks behind which he prays and dreams of 
Heaven — into whom God is pouring divine knowl- 
edge by a steady stream. God knows how to work 
with means, and how to " make all things abound " — 
how to make up more than is needed by human defi- 



200 CRUMBS OP THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

ciency. Divine communication cannot be cut off or 
intercepted by human hands save our own. 

" Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the 
world." We may win through Him. Pie never gets 
into some people, because He is crowded out, as He 
was at the inn when He was born. They get to nib- 
bling at some doctrine, and get their brains joggled a 
little, and think they are converted ; but Christ is not 
in them, nor never was; hence their carnality and 
defeat. Shall we lay their disgrace at the feet of the 
mighty Savior, who . is able to save " to the utter- 
most"? Nay, but at their own feet. That soul's 
citadel never capitulated yet that had and kept 
Christ in it to command. Put Christ out, and as- 
sume command yourself, and you will have a flag of 
truce up before night. " Mighty to save " is He. " I 
in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made 
perfect in one." John 17 : 23. 



THE ADVERSARY. 201 



CHAPTER VII. 



A PEESONAL ADVERSARY. 

Some do not believe we have a personal foe. 
"The Devil," they say, "is our own evil mind," or 
nature. But it " is a poor rule that won't work both 
ways." By the same rule of Scripture interpretation, 
may we not believe we have no personal helper? 
The God we have learned to love with all our hearts 
may not be anything but our own better mind, or 
nature. So a Christian is a kind of double-ended 
monstrosity; his evil mind pulling in one direction, 
and his good mind in another ; and if equally bal- 
anced, the forces become neutralized, and he is a zero 
in the world. " It were better for that man if he had 
never been born." 

James says " a double-minded man is unstable in 
all his ways." James 1 : 8. And he further exhorts 
such: "Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify 
your hearts, ye double-minded." James 4 : 8. Such 
as these are described in the seventh chapter of 
Romans ; but Christians are described in the eighth 
chapter : — 

There is therefore no condemnation to them which are in 

Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the 

Spirit. But ye ( Christians ) are not in the flesh, but in 

the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwells in you. 

Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of 

His. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of 

siD ; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness, etc. 
9* 



202 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

A Christian has no right to have an evil mind. 
Christ frees His people of the unclean spirit within^ 
but not of the tempter without. Did He in whom 
vras " no guile " have an evil mind or nature to con- 
tend with ? Yet He was " tempted in all points as 
we \_ChristianSy not sinners] are, yet without sin." 
Forty days of it upon a stretch He endured ; He was 
"led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be 
tempted" — with his evil mind^ was he? No, "of 
the Devil ;'^'^ that is the way it reads. Christians are 
led of the Spirit to be tempted of the Devil, but 
not to be tempted with "their evil minds." "A 
house divided against itself cannot stand," says 
Christ. Double-minded Christians cannot stand. 
" If thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be 
filled with light," says Christ again. Double-minded, 
double-eyed men are always in the dark, always 
in trouble, always unstable, always falling. What 
Christ wants to do is to make a unit of a man ; then 
he will be well qualified to " resist the Devil " when 
there is no insurrection within. 

Now if this idea is a good one, that all the Devil 
there is, is "our own evil mind," it ought to be prac. 
tical ; so we will put it into practice. 

"Now there was a day when the sons of God came 
to present themselves before the Lord and e/bS's evil 
mind came also among them. And the Lord said 
unto Joh^s evil mind^ Whence comest thou ? Then 
JoVs evil mina answered the Lord and said. From 
going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up 
and down in it. And the Lord said unto JoV^s evil 
mind^ Hast thou considered my servant Job that 
there is none like him in the earth [ ! ] a perfect [ ! ] 
and upright man, one that feareth God and eschew- 



THE ADVERSAKY. 203 

eth evil ? Then JoVs evil viind answered the Lord 
and said, "Doth Job*s better mind fear God for 
nought? Hast not thou made a hedge about him? 
[ for what ? to keep the Devil — his evil mind in ? 
for if there is no personal Devil without, why the 
hedge ? ] and about his house [ to keep his evil mind 
out of the house ] and about all that he hath on 
every side ? (All that Job had was troubled with an 
evil mind to be hedged in.) Thou hast blessed the 
work of his hands, and his substance is increased in 
the land. But put forth thine hand now and touch 
all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. 
And the Lord said unto Joh's evil mind^ Behold, all 
that he hath is thy power \of course it was^ if it was 
in Job's evil ndnd'^s power] only upon himself [ thy- 
self ] put not forth thine hand. So JoVs evil ynind 
went out from the presence of the Lord." Job 1 : 
6-12. 

And this conversation is subs tantially repeated in 
chapter 2 : 1-3, with the addition of what follows, 
how that JoVs evil mind " answered the Lord, and 
said. Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he 
give for his life. But put forth thine hand now and 
touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to 
thy face. And the Lord said unto JoVs evil mind^ 
Behold, he is in thine hand ; but save his life. So 
went tToVs evil mind forth from the presence of the 
Lord, and smote JoVs body with sore boils, from the 
sole of his foot unto his crown." What nonsense 
that makes of it, does it not ? 

Again, Luke 10 : 18 — "I beheld somebody's 
\ychosef'\ evil m.ind as lightning fall from Heaven. 
Again, Luke 22 : 31 — "And the Lord said, Simon, 



204 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

Simon, behold your evil mind hath desired to have 
you that he [it] may sift you as wheat." 

Once more : let us take three connected verses (1 
Pet. 5: 6-8), and see how this rule of interpretation 
works both ways: — "Humble yourselves under the 
mighty hand of your better mind^ that it may exalt 
you in due time. Casting all your care upon your 
better 7nind; for it careth for you. Be sober, be vig- 
ilant; because your adversary, your evil niind^ as a 
roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom it may 
devour." 

Now take your Bible and read it as it is, and see 
which is truth ; see if it is not according to truth and 
better for a Christian, as Peter in his next epistle 
says, to " be partakers of the divine nature, having 
escaped the corruption that is in the world through 
lust " (2 Pet. 1:4); and have a character which he 
further describes, which if we lack we are blind, and 
cannot see afar off, and forget that we have been 
purged from our old sins. But as holy as we may be 
in character, we do not escape the tempter till we go 
into the kingdom to come ; for the Apostle exhorts 
all Christians to 

Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to 
stand against the wiles of the Devil. Eph» 6: 11. 



SATAN'S DEVICES. 

The soldier of Christ should not only know the 
Lord's will, but he should be " not ignorant of 
Satan's devices." Paul was schooled in this matter. 
A soldier is in danger who is on duty if he does not 



THE ADVERSARY. 205 

know the plans and position of the enemy. This is 
imperatively so with a leader ; but his knowledge is 
gained largely by the picket duty, and reports of 
privates in the ranks. From the highest to the low- 
est, the men of God should be on the alert for the 
sly dodges of the Devil. For he not only has a 
design against the church of God in its collective 
capacity, but he has a purpose to annoy and capture 
the individual; and his earnestness to accomplish 
that purpose will be governed by the brilliancy, 
power and devotion that person has for, and the 
importance he is to, the service of Christ. There are 
some of these which the enemy is a hundred times 
more desirous of '' picking off " with his sharp -shoot- 
ing process, than he is of others. If there is anybody 
too holy to give attention in part to the intrigues of 
the imps of darkness, he ought to be able to go up 
higher, for there is nothing for him to do here below. 
The Lord has given us the Holy Spirit as a dlscerner 
as well as a comforter ; and in fact much of the com- 
fort is derived by discerning the good from the evil. 
We learn largely what is the will of the Lord con- 
cerning us by finding out what the Devil is about ; 
and the Spirit and the Word will give us just this 
information without going into evil experience to 
learn it. " Prove all things : hold fast that which is 
good." 

It is surprising to those who get their eyes open 
how many roles Satan can appear in. He is quite a 
preacher. He will quote Scripture ; but if you have 
got the spirit of discernment you will see that he 
misapplies it. It is the application of Scripture that 
does us good or evil, as the case may be, by the way 
it is done. There is stuff enough in any well- 



206 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

appointed drug store to cure most of the ills of life 
if rightly applied ; but, bless your heart, do not swal- 
low with your eyes shut everything that is brought 
to you ! Examine it. The oil of vitriol is good to 
soak cast-iron in, but for weak eyes you would prefer 
something more mild to bathe them in. Just see 
how the Devil wanted to get Jesus to jump o££ the 
pinnacle of the temple, and then quoted Scripture to 
back it up — " He shall give His angels charge over 
thee to keep thee, lest thou dash thy foot against a 
stone." But Christ met him with the Word — " It is 
written." So must we. God hath not given any 
command, you see, for his servants to jump off the 
tops of temples. Mark you, the promises and com- 
mands are linked together. The amount of it was, 
Satan was not aiming to see the Word of the Lord 
tested and fulfilled ; he wanted Jesus to kill Himself. 
He is now meeting with better success at this suicide 
business, because folks do not make God's Word 
their comfort and defence. 

How Satan will bother the soldier who does not 
meet him with the sword of the Spirit and the shield 
of faith — the whole panoply of God! You know 
they say nowadays — and who knows but the Devil 
has an interest in that doctrine ? — that all the Devil 
that Christians have to bother them is inside of them. 
Then what is the use of all that outside armor of 
Ephesians 6: 11, and onward? To keep the Devil 
in ? If I mistake not, the sense of the New Testa- 
ment goes for inward purity and resistance to the 
Devil. But he gets in. Then put him out ! Satan 
used to register himself in his own name once, and 
begin operations, and fight it out on that line ; but 
poor success teaches him to change tactics, if it does 



THE ADVERSARY. 207 

not others. He has been transformed " into an angel 
of light." He sees that a respectable show of good 
will act as an ambush for him to work behind. Look 
out for him, you leaders in Israel. Your spiritual 
senses ought to be as keen as possible. 

But see him bother an individual. If he can suc- 
ceed better in praising up one's piety, then he will do 
that. If he can puff a person up with flattery, he 
will do it. But there is another timid, modest, dis- 
trustful soul who is as conscientious as an angel, or, 
at least, wants to be, but lacking the judgment, mem- 
ory and capacity of an angel, of course fails some- 
times. Now he will try to make out that person an 
awful sinner. " There ! " says he, " if I could not do 
better than that, I would not try." And it is just 
what he wants you to do — not to try. If he cannot 
praise a man to kill him, then he will scare him to 
death. He will bring tests of Christian character 
that are not in the Bible. Mark that. How he will 
lay down the case as to how holy you must live, 
which no man in the flesh could ever live up to, and 
which God in His Word has never required ! And if 
he has accomplished his purpose to discourage you, 
then he will leave you for other fields. Study the 
Word ! that is God's will concerning you. Do not 
try to live a Christian life on impressions, if you do, 
you will have all the impressions you want, and many 
you do not want, which are of the Devil. Act under 
orders; do not go by guesses and your nerves. 

Well, does this idea of paying so much attention 
to what Satan is up to discourage you ? Then you 
may as well go to the rear. The Christian life is a 
warfare ; it is " the good fight " of faith, by which 
you " lay hold " of something which you do not by 



208 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

nature possess — " eternal life ! " The Christian life 
is not all dress parade, and camp comforts and ecsta- 
sies. To the front, there, you raw recruit, white and 
clean as a baby, and get your clothes worn soma for 
God — and they may get soiled — and get the Gos- 
pel sunburn on your face ! If you have enlisted for 
God ia ignorance of the character of your opposi- 
tion, then your recruiting officer did not do his duty. 
God wants volunteers to go to the battle front, know- 
ing something about what they have got to do when 
they get there. He does not want to keep you in 
ignorance till he gets you into the army, and then 
have you run away. 

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the' fiery trial 
which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened 
unto you. 1 Pet. 4 : 12. 

The soldier who expects to enter a fight should not 
think it strange when he gets there if a bullet sings 
by his ears, or if his next comrade falls, or another is 
blown to pieces. It is nothing strange. Neither 
should it be thought strange by the newly-enlisted 
disciple if he gets into a fiery trial — a hot one. 

Over all this great battle for life spreads that grand 
arch of truth to our great comfort, hope and courage : 
" Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the 
world." Follow your leader — follow Christ, and 
you need never fear nor fail. 



TEMPTATION. 209 

WHO IS TEMPTED? 

Who is tempted ? He who is alive unto God. It 
is a mistaken notion which some entertain that a man 
can distance temptation by living near to God. I 
know that some manage to get into a sort of unc- 
tions mood by doing themselves up in a theory as a 
silk-worm wraps himself up in silk so that all they 
come in contact with is their theory — they are se- 
cluded in the theoretical convent throughout among 
men ; but show me a real, live, holy Christian whose 
heart is as transparent as glass, and who is encased 
in nothing but the righteousness of Chris t, and who 
makes it his business to come in contact with evil 
men to lead them to Christ — in short, show me a 
man whose thinking is not done for him by human 
leaders, and I will show you one who knows what 
the cross-fire of temptation is. 

The place to be beyond temptation is in the ceme- 
tery. That man who is alive unto God in every 
sinew of soul feels keenest the approach of evil. 
Some say they are not tempted. No wonder; they 
were the Devil's dead ducks long ago, and he knows 
where to find them every time — just where he left 
them. Bat that wounded one, who is making good 
time to get out of his way, is the one he is after. 
The man who keeps the closest accounts is the most 
besieged to enter into a bargain. The Devil knows a 
good creditor as well as other folks, and whom to 
depend on. There was a dispute between Michael 
the archangel and the Devil about the body of 
Moses ; but if Moses had not been of more account 
than some today who talk about Moses' mistakes, 
there would have been no dispute about his body ; it 
would have rotted with the rest. 



210 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

The Devil tempts those who are of some account, 
and there are none of more account to God than 
those who do not know any better than to believe 
what He says, and step out on His promises and 
obey Him. 



TEMPTATION. 

Professed Christians will pray, *^ Lead us not into 
temptation, but deliver us from evil," and expect the 
Lord is going to do the whole job without their co- 
operation. It is a great mistake. God can do won- 
ders independently of us, but there are many things 
which He does through us, and this battle of life 
against temptation is one of them. It is a fruitless 
task without His help : it is a grand success with His 
assistance. But, brother, you must paddle as well as 
pray. God helps those who show some disposition 
to help themselves. What can Zdo, you say, toward 
gaining the mastery over my temptation, my beset- 
ting sin? You can do much. Is it the temptation 
that comes from evil associates? To obtain the 
Lord's blessing in that direction, you must come over 
on the Lord's side and quit the camp of sin. "No 
man can serve two masters." The man who under- 
takes to divide his smiles between holy conversation 
and filthy stories, will find the wear and tear too much 
for his spirituality. A righteous man not only ought 
to be pleased with much in this world, but vexed 
with a good deal that is going on. If you have not 
learned how to frown on evil, you do not know how 
the joy of salvation works. You cannot have a pass 



TEMPTATION. 211 

on the Gospel train, and be a stockholder or director 
in the Black Valley railroad. Quit keeping the 
Devil's books. 

In many cases of temptation it lies with man, 
aided by the Holy Spirit, to remove the cause. 
Some one of the five senses may furnish the avenue 
through which one may run right into temptation. 
David said, '' I will set no wicked thing before my 
eyes." That will remove a large cause of trouble. 
What a man does with his stock and tools on hand 
will have something to do with his success in quitting 
the tobacco habit ; and then if he comes in contact 
with it afterward accidentally, let him testify against 
it and shake off the dirt from his feet as he quits the 
place. What a woman does with her jewelry will 
have something to do, perhaps, with reviving the old 
passion to wear it, when she has been convinced that 
wearing such gewgaws and Indian relics is no part of 
godliness. 

If your eyes trouble your piety, look the other 
way. If your ears hear that which annoys you, stop 
them with your fingers, Bunyan-like, and run crying, 
eternal life. Does your tongue troub le you ? Give 
it i^lenty to do in the praise of God and in kind 
words to others. Do the neighbors annoy? "Over- 
come evil with good." The untutored savage appre- 
ciates kindness, but resents abuses naturally enough. 
The mud in the stream may come from your fountain 
after all. The boy who treats an elephant to a chew 
of tobacco need not tell me afterward that that ele- 
phant persecutes him. But when charity has suf- 
fered long and is kind, if nothing is to be bettered, 
move to some other locality ; this is a big world. 

Do your passions tempt you to evil? Look out 



212 CKrMES OF THE BEEAD OF LIFE. 

how you feed them. It need not be surprising if a 
horse kept up in idleness and fed high is kinky and 
unmanageable when he gets out. Leave off the oats 
or do more work with him. Moreover, cry out to 
God with David to create within you a clean heart. 
But even then, when that is done, you are not to be 
beyond watchfulness. Above all run in the way of 
God's commandments, and then you will not have 
much time to go on the Devil's errands. See that 
your feet are pointed in the right way, prayer-meet- 
ing night especially. 



THE SAND BLAST. 

The sand blast is a late invention, by means of 
which designs are cut on glass. The older methods 
were etching in the design with an acid which would 
eat the glass, and grinding it with grindstones. 

To prepare the glass for the sand-blast, it is cov- 
ered with a thin coating of soft wax, and the design 
is made through the wax, which allows the sand, 
when powerfully blown by a machine, to strike the 
bare glass and cut in the design. The soft wax pre- 
serves the remainder of the surface of the glass. 
Anything hard the sand-blast cuts, while anything 
soft it will not affect. Lace mny be laid over glass, 
and wherever the lace lies the glass will be untouched, 
leaving a lace design. The flesh of the workman's 
fingers, placed in the way of the blast, is uninjured, 
but woe to his finger-nails, if held there too long. 

Well, what has all this to do with religious mat- 
ters? Nothing, only by way of illustration. The 
Devil has designs, and a sand-blast, too. To get 
those designs worked into the hearts and characters 



TEMPTATION. 213 

of the children of men, is his continual work. Just 
as long as you keep tender in the love of Jesus, He 
may pour His sand-blast upon you, and you 'will not 
be in the least aftected by it ; but when you begin to 
get cold in His service, and hard toward your breth- 
ren, the Devil's designs will begin to work their way 
into your heart ; and designs wrought in the heart are 
not long in making outward appearance, whether 
good or bad. For " out of the abundance of the 
heart the mouth speaketh." 

There is a great tendency toward hardness nowa- 
days, in the contact of man with man. It is the Dev- 
il's work. The Gospel is to counteract it. The lov- 
ers of Jesus should by all means be very pliable in 
their dealings with everybody. There is such a Dev- 
il-begotten appetite among mankind for gruffness, 
shortness, briskness, hardness, that if a person from a 
better nature, or by the love of Christ, shows a gen- 
tle and heavenly disposition toward all he comes in 
contact with, he is regarded as "soft" — a "putty 
man." He is not considered up to the standard of 
smartness; he is a mediocre man. Well, Christians 
are expected to appear foolish to this world for 
Christ's sake ; here is an excellent chance. 

There are a great many valuable materials in this 
world, the usefulness of which depends on the warmth 
of the surrounding atmosphere, such as patent leather. 
But Christians are expected to keep their pliability 
when the atmospheric coolness tends to make them 
brittle. There are a good many patent leather Chris- 
tians. When the atmosphere is warm with the Holy 
Spirit, they are as pliable as calf-skin, but as soon as a 
cool breeze strikes them they begin to harden up ; 
and if troubled they will break as quick as a patent 
leather boot. 



21'! CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

You must keep pliable, brethren and sisters, if you 
are surrounded with things tending to the contrary. 

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is 
this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, 
and to keep himself unspotted from the world, James 1 : 27. 

Many can do the first part of this, but the rest is 
not so easy. How to keep fruit from spoiling is just 
as important as how to "can" it. Paul's directions, 
if followed, will insure the result. 

And the Lord direct your hearts into the patient waiting 
for Christ. 2 Thess. 3: 5. 

Many seem to be in a patient waiting for Christ; 
but how they ever got into that position without get- 
ting more into the love of God, bothers me to under- 
stand. There are many professors " canned up " for 
glory, in popular sects, but they w^ere never "sealed 
up"; and that accounts for their spoiling so quick. 

In whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with 
that holy spirit of promise. Eph. 1 : 13. 



CAPTIVATED WITH PHILOSOPHY AND 
VAIN DECEIT. 

Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil 
of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the 
tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not 
after Christ. Col. 2: 8. (K. Y.) 

The Gospel of Christ, or the plan of salvntion 
therein described, is noted for its simplicity, plainness, 
straightforwardness — pointing to one grand central 
fact : the sacrifice of Christ for our sins. Herein lies 
its strength. All great things and persons are known 



TEMrTATION. 215 

by their simplicity. This is the stumbling-stone over 
which God's chosen nation fell, and it has not ceased 
to be an offence to many individuals yet. It was dif- 
ficult to keep the Israelites confined to the simple 
manna, though it was sent down from Heaven ex- 
pressly for them, and contained just the elements 
needed for their sustenance; the memory of the flesh- 
pots and garlic of Egypt was a continual vexition and. 
temptation to them, until quails were given them in 
wrath, and many carcasses of them were left in the 
wilderness to rot and bleach in consequence. How 
much humanity knows until God prostrates it in the 
dust! 

Sodom has its siren songs, and Lot's wife's neck ever 
has a joint in it that will easily twist in that direction. 
What ails many a Christian is the neck-ache after the 
world. A man would reap a harvest of shekels to 
pitch a tent in any of these cities, and put out a ban- 
ner with the inscription thereon, "A man's face where 
the back of his head ought to be," provided he had 
such a monstrosity on exhibition. But that is such 
an e very-day sight in spiritual matters, that a man 
with his feet and face set like a flint Zionward is get- 
ting to be a living curiosity. 

Stick to the simplicity which is in Christ, brother. 
Do not get ashamed of the plain Gospel of Christ, 
for the reason that it is the power of God unto salva- 
tion to every one that believeth it. If it w^ould do 
for a Paul at Rome and Colosse in the classic days, it 
will answer for us today. Not that a man is to ignore 
true philosophy, meaning by that term what a man 
knows himself, and has demonstrable proof of. Some 
people seem to think that the real marrow of Chris- 
tianity is to be found in the bone of ignorance; but 
there is much always passing for philosophy which is 



216 CRUMBS OF THE BKEAD OF LIFE. 

arrayed in opposition to the Gospel that is only the 
arrny of empty words. The dictionary is full of 
lh(^m, and a fellow with some ingenuity can hitch 
them together so they will look really formidable ; 
but they are the empty tea chests arrayed on the 
shelves of the man who has no other capital ; and a 
thrust or two with the sword of the spirit will reveal 
the emptiness. 

I pity the man of God who has not discernment 
enough to tell the difference between a live man and 
a stuffed scarecrow, and is captured with a " dummy " 
army. But there are those who are thus deceived. 
The Devil has killed many a man with a blank cart- 
ridge through fright — a maneuver that pleases him 
because he can save the harder ammunition for a more 
difficult case, for he needs to be sparing of it. How 
prone is humanity to be preyed upon with art and de- 
vice ! How our imaginations and speculations run 
riot with us! A doctor once told me that a patient 
of his — a great man — once bellowed like a calf when 
he, unbeknown to the patient, suddenly thrust his 
cold thermometer under his arm to take his tempera- 
ture, supposing that he surely had been lanced! 

Ah ! we know but little, hence we have no capacity 
nor time for speculation or guess work. Let us put 
our knowledge on the things we have been assured of 
which pertains to life and godliness. A hard fact is 
better than soft delusion. "A living dog is better 
than a dead lion." I would rather be a living dog in 
the camp of God than be a dead lion in the Devil's 
cart, to be carried off with my head hanging out — a 
spoil in the sight of all men. Wait till your death- 
bed before you trade off the simple truth of the Gos- 
pel for the attractive wares of men. 



FBUITS OF THE FLESH. 217 



CHAPTER VIII. 



I AND THOU. 

Before one learns the important lesson of humility 
— of human emptiness and weakness and divine ful- 
ness and strength — he will be much given to the use 
of the pronoun I, 

God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extor- 
tioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast 
twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I possess. 

Twenty-nine words and five Fs ; or one I to every 
six words. This choice bit of human composition 
was gotten off for a prayer, but it was simply a piece 
of braggadocio. It was the result of a man's pray- 
ing "with himself" as a good many do. When a 
man prays to God he works in some other pronouns. 
There is a difference between I a saint and "me a 
sinner." 

There was a disciple who stands on record as a 
representative of human boasting and weakness. He 
had not then learned that to stand uj) for Christ we 
must know that "underneath are the everlasting 
arms." "Although all shall be offended, yet will not 
I. And Jesus saith unto him-, Verily, I say unto 
thee. That this day, even in this night, before the 
cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. But he 
spake the more vehemently. If I should die with 
thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also 
10 



218 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

said they all." Mark 14 : 29-31. Peter was not the 
only boaster. It is natural for all to tell what great 
things they have done or are going to do. " Likewise 
also said they all." Peter might have been foremost 
in it and the others, saying Amen to his sentiments, 
little thinking how it was going to sound, or come 
out ; same as the brethren are apt to do nowada} s 
in the exuberance of spirits. Be careful how and 
when you say Amen. The next time that we notice 
that Peter gets conspicuously into conversation with, 
the Lord, he puts the brakes down on the pronoun I, 
It is "thou knowest, thou knowest, thou knowest, 
thou knowest, that I love thee." John 21 : 15-17. 
It is necessary and proper of course to use the pro- 
noun I occasionally ; but bury it up with " thou 
knowest." "Yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." 
Gal. 2 : 20. " Looking unto Jesus the author and fin- 
isher of our faith." Consider Him, 



CONDESCENSION AND CONTENTMENT. 

" MiiSTD not high things, but condescend to men of 
low estate." Rom. 12 : 16. The Apostle did not 
pen the above admonition to make them miserable as 
they put it in practice — a sort of penance to atone 
for the sin of feeling " high-toned." But he meant 
quite the reverse — to put them in a condition of 
contentment, and that is the source of true happi- 
ness. It is the key to that other admonition : "And 
be content with such things as ye have." Heb. 13 : 
5. 

To illustrate : Sister A, who is in fair circum- 
stances, and yet in a peck of worry because her car- 



mUITS OF THE FLESH. 219 

pets do not look nice enough, and the other appoint- 
ments of her household do not give such well-to-do 
evidence as she would like, perchance makes a busi- 
ness call — she would not think of making a social 
visit! — at Sister (?) B's; and her eyes are busy 
furtively in the short time that she stays in glancing 
about the apartments. One thing she is sure of : 
there is no lack of soap and sand ; what there is, is 
tidy. But there is an absence of carpets, rich pic- 
tures, bric-a-brac and other comforts. How plain and 
poverty-stricken the place looks ! And the evidence 
is, alas, too true. Sister A is blessed with some 
reflection on the way home, and concludes and is 
thankful that she is as well off as she is. She is now 
contented, and feels somewhat wealthy. That is 
what this apostolic command is intended to produce, 
and this is the way it will work every time in every 
way if we are thus minded. Always take a step 
lower, and lift up some one if you would be happy 
and contented yourself. Jesus came down from 
Heaven to us, and [ His Father] " shall see the 
travail of His [Son's] soul and be satisfied." What 
condescension was that ! Jesus suffered all for the 
joy set before Him. Heb. 12 : 3. 

Well, He left us an example that we should walk 
in His steps. We should be like-minded. Suppos- 
ing, instead, the Apostle had said, " Mind not low 
things, but strive to get into favor of men of high 
estate," what a condition of obedience we should all 
be in just now ! And how like the troubled sea we 
should feel — discontented and worrying over our lot. 
Well, it is ever thus when our practice is at right 
angles with the Scriptural advice. Let us sink the 
shaft of practice lower — strike the well-springs of 
Gospel humility. 



220 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

REJOICING IN OTHERS' DOWNFALL. 

" Let not despair nor fell revenge 
Be to my bosom known; 
Give me a heart for others' woe, 
And patience for mine own." 

" Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty 
spirit before a fall," says the wise man in the good 
Book; and h«)w true of ancient Tyre (Ezek. 26), who 
rejoiced over the downfall of Jerusalem in the fol- 
lowing language : — "Aha, she is broken that was 
the gates of the people ; she is turned unto me ; I 
shall be replenished, now she is laid w^aste." For 
this reason God was against that city, and prophesied 
to it by Ezekiel, saying, 

I will make thee like the top of a rock: thou shalt be a 
place to spread nets upon ; thou shalt be built no more. 

All who are familiar with history know that this 
all transpired upon that wicked city to the letter, 
showing the reliability of God's Word in the most 
complete manner. Now God dealt with that city no 
differently than He will with any other city or peo- 
ple, church, family or individual, when the same 
principles are manifested. God has declared respect- 
ing His dealings with sinful men : — " I change not." 

When one denomination of professed disciples of 
Christ has a haughty spirit toward another denomina- 
tion, and exults in anything which has happened in 
or to that denomination that casts a reproach upon it, 
it is rejoicing in their downfall, and the retribution 
will be just as sure and bitter as with Tyre of old. 
It is just as mean a trait with a denomination as with 
a city. We have often seen and deplored the mani- 



FRUITS OF THE FLESH. 221 

festation of this spirit in this way, both in a general 
and a local manner. Where there are two or more 
churches in a village, of different sects, it is not un- 
usual to see this spirit of rivalry. It may not be 
necessary to be outspoken in this manner to deserve 
the vengeance of the Lord. People can feel inwardly 
all this haughtiness, rivalry and jealousy, and say 
nothing ; but God knoweth your hearts ; the retribu- 
tion is the same. God will punish the sins of your 
hearts as well as of your tongues and other members. 
Then again, it is a common thing for neighboring 
families to get into the same spirit. They will watch 
the happenings of each other, and when the other 
gets into a scandal or any trouble, they are ready to 
exult, "Aha ! " as did Tyre. The same is true of in- 
dividuals in many callings. I do not know but that 
preachers sometimes get ungodly enough to feel and 
act so toward each other, but we hope not. Rival 
trades, professional men, and mechanics in small 
places, are apt to fall into this sin, especially if they 
have not the grace of God in their hearts. Like the 
rival church which inwardly rejoices over the down- 
fall of the other, saying, "Now I shall be replen- 
ished," when they have more profession than true 
religion, so of individual interests. 

But unto all such, whether nation, party, church, 
family or individuals, we say, in the name of God 
who visited ancient Tyre, Repent ! or swift retribu- 
tion awaits you. " If the mighty works had been 
done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in 
you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in 
sackcloth and ashes." " But it shall be more tolera- 
ble for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for 

you." 



222 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIF:te. 

MAKING HIM KING. 

When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come 
and take Him by force, to make Him a King, He departed 
again into a mountain alone. John 6: 15. 

Strife and vain-glory are developments from un- 
spiritual hearts. There may be a great blaze in the 
name of Christianity which never was kindled by the 
Holy Spirit. Mere hero worship is an easily-devel- 
oped trait of the natural mind. There are never 
wanting moons and satellites to revolve around some 
shining orb for what glory they can borrow. Inter- 
nal worship is the jewel much sought after by the 
"Merchantman," which should be offered him with 
right acts ; but the mere external laudation and deifi- 
cation of some idea, or thing, or even of Christ Him- 
self, will never be accepted as the true coin at Heav- 
en's mint. Love and obedience to God, though quiet 
and unassuming, are better than much bombast, 
senseless sacrifice, and sham glorification. If it is 
the most popular thing, and they who can cry the 
loudest in its defence which is the right, then they 
who cried " Great is Diana of the Ephesians " in 
Paul's day, bore off the palm. No doubt Israel 
thought that worship was becoming stately and grand 
when they had gotten the golden calf enthroned, but 
he who met Moses alone in the mount had that wor- 
ship which was not in all the plain. God thinks more 
of the secret pleadings of him who comes to Him 
alone, than all the popular flutter and jingle of idola- 
try. So from these hungry demagogues, who were 
more anxious for an earthly potentate than they were 
for heavenly righteousness, Christ betook Himself to 
the mountain alone. He would rather be alone in 



FRUITS OF THE FLESH. 223 

the mountain than popular in the city, unless that 
popularity could be built on righteous principles. 
He would rather be the subject of loneliness and sad- 
ness, and have the sweet assurance of righteousness, 
than be king — the lion of an unregenerate people. 

Christ does not need to be made king; "to that 
end was He born." He is king already by appoint- 
ment. He is more anxious for His subjects than He 
is about His title of royalty. He wants to be king 
of the world — He will be — but He is somewhat 
particular about the preparation to that end. People 
need not spend so much time " making Him king," 
for His throne was given Him long ago by the 
Father. They need not worry their heads about 
exalting Him, "for the Father hath highly exalted 
Him." Together with the proper worship of Christ, 
their Lord and King, there should be more effort 
among the saints to make subjects than a king. The 
king is all right, but all enemies are not yet bowing 
the knee. Instead of so much cheap glorification 
there should be more costly humiliation. If people 
want to take Christ " by force," they must come at it 
by a different method than they generally do. If 
they are in a hurry for Him to be a king, they should 
make haste to be righteous ; for He despises the hom- 
age of ungodly professors. They who humble them- 
selves not only exalt themselves, but Christ also; and 
this is the right way to make Him king. 



224 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

TWO-FOLD THINGS. 

Man is, in some sense at least, a dual being, else 
Paul used some meaningless language in his writings. 
lie mentions the " inward man " and the " outward 
man." (Rom. 7 : 22 ; 2 Cor. 4:16; Eph. 3:16.) Not 
that there are two distinct men — one inside of the 
other, in partnership during life and dissolving at 
death; but he speaks of one man from two stand- 
points, the physical and the spiritual, the fleshly and 
the moral. And this is the voice of the entire 
Scripture in regard to man in this double sense. 
True, many have gone into error in carrying this 
twofold man over the event of death, by all sorts of 
vagaries and nonsense ; and others, pendulum-like, in 
vibrating from these extreme errors have gone over 
to the other extreme of making too much of a unit 
of a man, and thus have paralyzed the force of some 
Scripture on this point. They are so determined to 
spoil the error of man's conscious existence separate 
from his body, that they want people to understand 
that all there is to a man above his breath can be 
determined on the surgeon's dissecting bench. If 
possible, the last error is worse than the first. 

But we do not start to write at length upon man's 
existence ; our aim is to treat upon his regeneration, 
which made it necessary to touch merely that point. 

There is no fact clearer stated in the Bible than 
that sin is twofold, inward and outward- Christ 
commended the Pharisees for their outward appear- 
ance, but rebuked them for their inward filth. That 
there are two fields in which sin is committed — in 
the heart and outwardly with the members — proves 
the necessity for two remedies, when you consider 



THE NEW BIETH. 225 

that there is a warfare between the two which 
becomes intensified all the more as the heart is 
cleansed. The Pharisees thought that if they main- 
tained a strict exterior they were all right ; but 
Christ broke in upon their sinful slumbers with this 
statement : " Whosoever looketh upon a woman to 
lust after her, committeth adultery with her already 
in his heart." And so He spoke of all sin. Its 
stronghold is in the heart, and unless marvelous 
work is done there, a hopeless case ensues. Though 
we may with Paul " groan " — and the more spiritual 
we are the more we shall groan — " for the redemp- 
tion of the body," yet some ought to groan more 
over the corruption of their moral natures. In spite 
of the twofold provision in the plan of redemption, 
there is too much of a tendency with some to carry 
the chiefest installment of it forward to the resurrec- 
tion. Let us have what belongs to us here. The 
thing for us to pay special attention to is inward 
regeneration ; the Lord manages the future salvation 
entirely. This moral nature must first partake pro- 
bationally of the divine, or the physical never will. 

In what department did sin commence? There 
was sin produced ere one single fruit of the forbid- 
den tree was detached. That sin was unbeliefs which 
is the root of all sin, and *' the sin which doth so 
easily beset us." Moral degeneracy precedes the 
physical. And so in the upward scale it must also 
take the precedence. If it will take a heaven-sent 
birth to regulate us physically, none the less will do 
morally. 

The word of God is " the incorruptible seed " 
which germinated in the heart, produces the new life ; 
10* 



226 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

and that life is made manifest by a travailing Zion 
aided by its own exertions. " The New Jerusalem 
which is above," and which is represented by the 
saints on earth, is " the mother of us all " morally ; 
but " the dust " will have its own mother — " the 
earth shall cast out her dead" at the resurrection. 

Faith " begets," " bears," " creates," " translates," 
"grafts" us into the present relation of sons of God. 
These are " transformed to the Word by the renew- 
ing of their minds, that they may prove what is that 
good and acceptable and perfect will of God." 

These lines between sonship and alienship may be 
too fine for some, but what else is the teaching of 
Christ? Did He mention m^re than two classes? 
He is just as close and positive as John, for He says 
" a good tree cannot bear corrupt fruit, neither can a 
corrupt tree bear good fruit." How is this ? Most 
people who think they are not yet "born of God" 
because they sin, would not dislike the idea of think- 
ing that, by the grace of God, they were good trees. 
Well, there are only two classes, and the fruit we 
bear will determine which we belong to. 

But he that is thoroughly begotten of God is not 
very liable to sin " because His seed " — the Word — 
'^ remaineth in him." What kept Christ out of sin 
was the Word — " it is written." If God's word had 
stuck to Adam as he ought to have let it, the Devil's 
insinuations would not have troubled him. " Let the 
Word dwell in you richly." 



THE NEW BIRTH, 227 

«A NEW CREATURE." 

Who is " a new creature " ? He who is " in 
Christ." 2 Cor, 5 ; 17. When is a man "in Christ"? 
Now^ by faith ; but, by the Spirit, Christ is in him 
now more than he is in Christ. Yet there is a time 
coming when a man may be said to be " in Christ " 
in an emphatic sens€. When is that? It is when 
the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, comes from Heaven 
to " change our vile body, that it may be fashioned 
like unto His glorious body, according to the work- 
ing Avhereby He is able even to subdue all things unto 
Himself." Phil. 3: 20, 21. That is when we can 
emphatically say, "Old things are passed away; be- 
hold all things are become new" (2 Cor. 5: 17), in 
fulfillment of Rev. 21: 5 — "Behold, I make all 
things new." "And He said unto me, It is done." 
Rev. 21 : 6. When did He say that ? After He had 
wiped away " all te.ars from their eyes "; and there 
was "no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, 
neither any more pain : for the former things are 
passed away." Rev. 21 : 4. 

At this^ time John did not see a man who felt as 
good as though he had the !N'ew Jerusalem in him ; 
"but," said he, "I John saw the holy city, New Jeru- 
salem, coming down from God out of Heaven." 
Where is it, you who believe that old things have 
already passed away and all things become new? 
John was not given to talking ^HoowXj feelings so much 
as some others are, for he had glorious facts enough 
to attend to ; and to look forward to the soon fulfill- 
ment of these facts is enough to make anybody feel 
as well as they can till it is done. The man who can 
scarcely sleep nights on account of the rheumatism 



228 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

will believe all things have become new when that 
voice says, " Neither shall there be any more pain." 
Snch an one may do a great deal of groaning here, 
but I believe they will do some shouting there. 

" Well," says one, " the Word says, ' if any man be 
in Christ he is a new creature,' " — " he is "/ present 
tense. Let him be a new creature, not at conversion, 
merely, but all along through his Christian life ; 
newer every year, and not entirely new till God gives 
him a new body. Some seem to think that conver- 
sion does a certain work for a man, and nothing more 
is done between that and the coming crown of life. 
But I read — and this is my boldness — 

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath 
begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of 
Jesus Christ. Phil. 1: 6. 

Conversion is the beginning of a good work, not 
the end. Christ is the ''Alpha and Omega, the be- 
ginning and the end." On the cross He could truly 
say, " It is finished," as far as the sacrificial part of 
Hi* work for us was concerned ; and all who in faith 
accept that sacrifice for their sins, may have " fin- 
ished salvation " so far as reconciliation between God 
and the sinner is concerned. But we must remember 
that this same Christ who has done so much for us is 
not done yet. But that time to which we before re- 
ferred is coming, when this same Christ will say, '' It 
IS DONE." Rev. 21: 6. What is done? Redemp- 
tion. These poor, aching, weak, erring bodies will 
then be redeemed, and the earth itself — "all things." 
True, old things are passed away, and all things are 
become new to the Christian in this life in the sense 
of His love, mode of life, habits, customs, maxims 



PHYSICAL REDEMPTION. 229 

and companions, and the more wicked a person has 
been the more apparent is this "newness of life." 
But in that " amazing change, a world created new," 
no one can vie with another in the newness. All 
who ever had a mortal body — and who has it not 
then — will shout redemption's glad notes then if 
they never did before. Then will come Isaiah's time : 

For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: 
the mountains and tlie hills shall break forth before you 
into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their 
hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir-tree, and 
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle-tree : and it 
shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign 
that shall not be cut off. Isa. 55 : 12, 13. 

Some call this conversion joy : but putting all these 
glorious promises of God (which are not due to be 
fulfilled " till the times of restitution of all things ") 
into our experience here, is like undertaking to put- 
all at once a hogshead of honey into a pint cup. 
We want to come up to our privileges here, but 
not try to get ahead too fast. While there is much 
joy and peace in Christ to possess here, all we can 
take care of, there is infinitely more to patiently wait 
and hope for at His coming and kingdom. 



REJOICING AND QROANING. 

Some seem to run away with the idea that the life 
of the believer in " full- salvation " should jingle like 
sleigh-bells from Monday morning till Saturday night 
in uninterrupted glee. Well, the Apostle mentioned 
a kind of piety that was like "tinkling cymbals." 
There is no variation in the sound ; it is tinkle, tinkle, 



230 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

all the time. Like sleigh-bells they jingle because 
they get moved by somebody who is really alive and 
subject to the vicissitudes of life. Now these people 
think that they must keep in just such a mood be- 
cause the Apostle said that we must " rejoice ever- 
more," " always," and " again," etc. But they should 
bear in mind that the same Apostle had a good deal 
to say about the groaning of believers. Rom 8 : 22. 

For we know that the whole creation groaneth and trav- 
aileth in pain together until now. 

Every creature is involved in the state of physical 
unrest in consequence of sin introduced into the 
world by the fall of man. See the innocent babe 
groan and cry with pain when it is cutting its teeth ; 
and then again after they are cut, with the tooth- 
ache ; and again when they are extracted. And it 
seems as though the earth itself shared in the com- 
mon grief; for perhaps as soon as the sun is risen on 
a beautiful June morning, and all nature seems to 
smile, then suddenly the earth groans and trembles 
in the spasms of an earthquake. How like humanity, 
who one hour perhaps are rejoicing in high spirits, 
and the next prostrate on a bed of pain. 

Oh, you say, by fatth we can skip over all this. 
No, you cannot. 

And not only they [creation], hut ourselves also, which 
have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan 
within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the re- 
demption of the body. Rom. 8: 23. 

" Oh, well," you say, " I have no objections to your 
groanings within^ if you do not groan right out." 
Well, what is inside generally once in a while shows 



PHYSICAL REDEMPTION. 231 

itself without. The earth groans right out at Mt. 
Vesuvius and elsewhere. June mornings must stand 
back there. The old earth must groan, and if you 
want to sit down and rest and fan yourself there 
upon the crater, it will not stop it. Are we any 
better than the earth? Were we not made of it? 
Are we not " of the earth earthy " ? Then we, the 
children, in pai% of the earth must groan until our 
mother is redeemed. 

" For we that are in this tabernacle [ this habita- 
tion] do groan," says Paul (2 Cor. 5 : 4), " being bur- 
dened: not that we would be unclothed," — we do 
not want to die ; there is another way out of the 
trouble, by the coming of the Life-giver — "but 
clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up 
of life," We do not want to be swallowed up with 
mortality; but we want "death swallowed up in 
victory" — triumphant with immortality bestowed 
upon us by the coming of our Wellington — Christ 
Jesus — in this Waterloo of trouble and death. 
"For I know that in me ( that is, my flesh) dwelleth 
no good thing," says Paul — Rom. 7 : 18. Then we 
shall probably be more or less troubled with it until 
we get rid of it by not going out of it in a disem- 
bodied manner, but by the renewing work of the 
power of God at the resurrection and restoration. 

" He who hath begun a good work in you will per- 
form it until the day of Christ." Are you con- 
verted, sanctified, " filled with the Spirit " ? Then it 
is but just begun. What you enjoy is but "the 
earnest," or proof, until the " redemption of the pur- 
chased possession." You are in your minority, and 
not worth a cent — only prospectively — only by 
promise until you " become of age " — till you come 



232 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

into the inheritance. Your good feelings are not 
from actual possession, but anticipatory of it. You 
may therefore rejoice, but " take heed lest you fall " 
and lose your title, which is conditional until the 
day of redemption. 

True Christian rejoicing is no shallow, external 
tinkling cymbals nor sounding brass. There is a 
great deal of high profession nowadays. People 
have come not only to the place where they do not 
appreciate the apostolic groaning for the resurrection 
adoption, but they act quite independent about it. 
And it is quite natural that they should, for they are 
not taught the difference. To keep the doctrines of 
the nature of man in life, death, and the future state, 
and the plan of redemption shrouded in some mys- 
tery, has been the aim of many Chiistian teachers. 
And so they are taught to believe that conversion 
adopts them into the full possession, with the excep- 
tion of the part that death plays in sending them to 
glory. And on other hands, we often hear people 
say they are so happy that " just a touch of immor- 
tality " would be all that was needed. Well, for our 
part, we want a little more than a touch. We yearn 
and groan to be built all over under the recreative 
hand of God. Though enjoying a good measure of 
" the firstfruits of the Spirit," we yet long for the 
full harvest. Though many of us have known the 
present blessing of a hundred-fold, we know nothing 
of the future glory of life everlasting in the world to 
come. With the great Apostle, we have not " at- 
tained," but are "reaching forth unto those things 
which are before." See then that your rejoicing is 
well mingled with the groaning — the longing, tlie 
yearning for what the coming of the Lord Jesus and 



CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE. 233 

the resurrection will bring to us. Do not get into 
that false state where it is expected that you are per- 
fectly satisfied " in this tabernacle." David was not 
so. Said he, " I shall be satisfied when I awake with 
Thy likeness." "Rejoicing in hope'''' — not in pos- 
session ; and " patient in tribulation." 

For we are saved by hope : but hope that is seen is not 
hope : for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for ? 
But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with pa- 
tience wait for it. Rom. 8 : 24, 25. 



HARD WORK OF IT. 

Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and 
I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of 
Me ; for I am meek and lowly in heart : and ye shall find 
rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden 
light. Matt. 11: 28-30. 

In spite of the last sentence of the passage above 
quoted, many make extremely hard work of it. We 
are cognizant of those Scriptures that unfold the trib- 
ulation of the Christian's life. And all that arises 
"because of the Word" (Matt. 13: 21)— because of 
your adherence to literal Bible truths — or for Jesus' 
name's sake. 

Now let us get at the root of suffering for Jesus' 
sake ; and there is suffering for His sake spoken of 
in the Scriptures. Jesus blessed such a class. Matt. 
5 : 10, 11. Paul was chosen by the Lord, and in his 
commission we read: "For I will show him how 
great things he must suffer for My name's sake. 
Acts 9 : 16. But you cannot be a sufferer for His 
sake and be working for self or under the Devil's 



234 CKUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

orders; nor will you under such circumstances get 
the pay that Jesus offers. 

When the Government orders a soldier to the front, 
it understands that there will be suffering, and offers 
a reward. But if the soldier disobeys orders a«id de- 
serts, or even goes in his own way without orders, do 
you suppose the Government would be responsible 
for his misfortunes, which ten to one would be worse 
than if he had obeyed ? 

You want to be very careful that you are under 
orders from Headquarters to claim the blessing of 
the Lord. And do not get ahead of orders ; this re- 
sults badly. Many suffer needlessly in this way. 

Suppose a child who has grown to years of under- 
standing does something that his father required him 
not to do, and gets injured ; he manages to endure 
the suffering that results without much ado, and con- 
siders himself lucky if he escapes getting the rod 
beside. 

Many Christians suffer through their own faults, or 
from the result of some sin against nature's laws 
long ago committed, and speak as though they were 
martyrs for Jesus ; while in truth they are only reap- 
ing that they have sown. 

We are children of a bankrupt father — the nat- 
ural Adam — and all we get through Him who 
has undertaken our redemption — " the Lord from 
Heaven " — is solid gain. It is folly to suppose that 
we have to " come down " to be a Christian, unless 
we are foolish enough (which a good many are) to 
be proud about nothing and glory m our shame. But 
really we are down flat as death by nature, and every 
favor shown us by the Lord our Savior is a lift from 
that pit. Redemption may be illustrated as coming 



CHKISTIAN EXPERIENCE. 235 

to US in two volumes, one moral, the other physical. 
Jesus by His works while here among us proved Him- 
self the author of both. " The author and (will be) 
the finisher of our faith." We are progressing well 
with Volume I ; the second is nigh at hand and 
soon will be in our hands. While the first is elemen- 
tary, fundamental, and if we do not read it right will 
seem a little prosy, the second will come to us embel- 
lished with eternal life, and pictorial with Eden re- 
stored. Oh, the grand volume is yet to come ! 

What we suffer through the inheritance of sin — 
not to speak of that we might suffer through our own 
practice of it — is downright folly to ascribe to the 
Lord and repine at it. True ; he can relieve us of 
all such trouble if He so choose, now; bat would it be 
best in every case ? Probably the Lord is blessing us 
about as much as we can bear, and be humble and 
loyal ; more than we deserve, certainly. Not every- 
body can bear prosperity. All above what is neces- 
sary to a bare existence is a curse to many. " Oh," 
you say, '' a Christian can bear any amount of pros- 
perity." No ; they cannot, now. We can when we 
are like Jesus — like '' His glorious body ;" and that 
is when He comes from Heaven. Phil. 3 : 20, 21. 

No matter how good we are morally, we are at the 
same time physically vile ; and with Paul we must 
keep our bodies under, lest we become a castaway. 
1 Cor. 9 : 27. When will people learn to realize that 
they are not made " equal to the angels " at conver- 
sion? Thank God for this first lift from sin, and be 
patient, giving Him glory for that, and you will get 
another that will eclipse that, when " this corruptible 
puts on incorruption." 1 Cor. 15 : 53. 



236 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OP LIFE. 

Now do not talk too much as though you left some 
very good thing behind to be a Christian, and so as 
to make people think what a mean thing it must be 
to serve the Lord. For it is too much like the Isra- 
elites murmuring as they came out of their E;^yptian 
bondage. It was a just God who destroyed many of 
them. Unthankful at being delivered from that hor- 
rid vassalage, they began to fling in the Lord's face 
about their hard fare; that they "had fish, cucum- 
bers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic in Egypt; but 
now our soul is dried away ; there is nothing at all, 
beside this manna, before our eyes." Num. 11 : 4-6. 
It is worse, if possible, than a woman's complaining 
to her second husband about his failings, and extoll- 
ing her first one. Brethren, could you endure that 
and feel pleased? Well, remember the Lord, who 
(worse still) is but " engaged " to us, and if we have 
renounced our former illegal wedlock to the world, 
and expect to be present at the " Marriage Supper," 
we ought to show respect — yes, love for Him now. 

Finally, do not court misery. Do not make beams 
to break your heads against. Learn to relish the 
sweetness of the Gospel rather than the cucumbers 
of your own pickling. If you decide to act scaven- 
ger for the church, you will have an unenviable occu- 
pation, and plenty to do. Give us the boy who whis- 
tles instead of the one who wears a dogged expres- 
sion. "Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I say, 
Rejoice." 



SANCTIFICATION. 237 

GOING o:n^ unto perfection. 

Therefoee leaving the principles of the doctrine of 
Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the 
foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith 
toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying 
on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal 
judgment. Heb. 6: 1, 2. 

But do not leave the " principles of the doctrine of 
Christ" and "go on unto perfection," until you have 
fully experienced and mastered thera. That would- 
be scholar who stumbles through addition, subtrac- 
tion, multiplication and division — never fully masters 
the multiplication table, and skips fractions — being 
in a hurry to distinguish himself in cube root and 
miscellaneous puzzles, will never be a perfect scholar. 

The principles of the doctrine of Christ run 
through the Bible, and Christian experience as the 
principles of mathematics run through an arithmetic. 
Thorough work in the beginning makes thorough and 
easy work all through ; but it will be difficult work 
to build perfection onto imperfection. The founda- 
tion of ^ building should be made in reference to the 
weight of superstructure. Growth should be the 
sequel of a right beginning, and abiding in the con- 
dition which promotes it. It is well to know thor- 
oughly the workings of divine things in their begin- 
ning before we are in such a hurry for a harvest, 
and not commit the blunder of the man who pulled 
his beans up and stuck them the other end down 
supposing that they had come up wrong end up. 
There are those who go on unto j)erfection who 
would not be losers in the end if they went back 
and started over again. Some who go forward for 



238 CKUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

prayers would get ahead faster if they should first go 
backv:ard for prayers and right up wrongs which 
exist. You cannot nickle-plate over rust, tarnish and 
dirt; that is the wrong road to perfection. Scouring 
and cleaning takes the precedence. 

Perfection is desirable — we believe in it — but do 
not skip anything for policy's sake, to attain it. You 
cannot ; you may think you can and fancy that you 
have attained it, but perfection does not perfect that 
way. " He that believeth shall not make haste." 
There is no occasion for it. It is a mighty result .to 
obtain real believers. All divine precedents are on 
the side of thoroughness and moderation, when that 
safe beginning has been made. Perfection of Chris- 
tian character does not rest on a foundation of hay, 
wood and stubble. " Other foundation can no man 
lay than is laid in Jesus Christ." The bed-rock is all 
in put the sills of your experience on there, brother. 
Faulty building is not atoned by higher professions ; 
tear down and build over again, according to the 
plan. That man who repents and does the first 
works when he has been going wrong, is getting 
along faster than the man who does not repent but 
does the second works when he has been going 
wrong. 



VARIED EXPERIENCES. 

They used to have machines four or five centuries 
ago to make everybody tJmiJc alike in religious doc- 
trines; but they did not prove successful. And now 
some men have a system that they think will make 



SANCTIFICATION. 239 

everybody feel alike in experimental matters ; and 
that is alike futile. The amount of it is, we are of a 
thousand different make-ups; and we view things 
from many different angles of natural disposition. 

When God saves a man from sin He does not give 
him an entire new disposition, any more than He sup- 
plies him with new limbs, when old ones have been 
amputated, or with straight ones, when old ones have 
become crooked; "the redemption of the body" "at 
the last trump " will do that ; to do this He would 
have to supply a new set of brains. The marvelous 
grace of God will fit any man's case, and sanctify his 
curious disposition to the service and glory of God. 
When this railroad company by which the writer is 
employed leases a new railroad, they begin to tear 
the engines to pieces, and make them like their 
own, supplying them with bolts of uniform length, 
and castings and attachments of every description, 
all numbered, and all alike, so that if an engine 
breaks down on some distant branch of the road, 
they do not have to send it to the shop, but tele- 
graph for a casting or bolt, giving name and num- 
ber, which returns by the next train on the main line, 
and the engineer puts it in its place, and off he goes 
rejoicing again. They do this to prevent being both- 
ered with so many kinds, and to dispatch business. 

But God does not do that way with every sinner 
He saves ; He takes him — not for a lease of fifty-five 
years, as railroads often take other roads — but for 
life^ and cleans him up inside and out, and puts His 
Spirit into him, and runs him as he is, until the day 
comes when " He shall change this vile body, and 
fashion it like unto 11 is [Christ's] glorious body, ac- 
cording to the working whereby He is able to subdue 



240 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

all things unto Himself." That will be the day when 
His watchmen see eye to eye — the perfect day — 
when His people can talk, shout and sing perfection 
on the same keynote. Until that day it will be bet- 
ter to defer strapping people on to iron bedsteads to 
make them believe alike, or trying to run them into 
a mold to make them feel alike, and give our atten- 
tion to saving sinners. 

God gets glory to His name by using men as they 
are in His work. You might as well undertake to 
pitch hay with a barn shovel, or shovel sand with a 
pitchfork, as to undertake to mold into the same tool 
every different disposition of man. And th's is use- 
less and unscriptural. Christ's body — the church — 
is composed of many members of different appear- 
ance, use and magnitude. The thumb has no busi- 
ness to brag over the little finger and say, " Why do 
not you wiggle the same as I do, and take hold of 
things as though you meant it ? " He who made the 
human body in all its wonder-working can sanctify 
and use all the dispositions of people to His work 
and glory. He can use that fearful, timid, cautious 
soul as a c^ieck-valve, or that boisterous, bold, indis- 
creet person whom the Devil is prompting to his 
utmost to slojD over and drive everybody into dis- 
gust. He has given the same Spirit to each member 
to profit withal. And when the same operator can 
make the same tune sound the same through a Scotch 
bagpipe as when played upon a piano, then you can 
make everybody act and feel alike when the Spirit is 
turned on. 

One person is capable of loving God more than 
another. Christ said so, because he is forgiven more. 
But our hearts can be so enlarged as to receive more 



SANCTinCATION. ^ 241 

and more of the divine love, and yet we cannot have 
" perfect love " in the sense of the infinite quality 
that God has, for the lack of capacity to contain it. 
But we can have the same kind of love — that per- 
fect love which loves enemies and prays for them. 
A drop of water from the ocean is the same as all 
the remainder, but it is not the ocean. Set a gill cup 
fall of water on a hot stove, and it will probably 
sputter, hiss, fry and steam a few minutes, nutil it 
has boiled itself dry ; but put a kettle half full on, 
and it will seethe and hold its contents. I have seen 
people make a great deal of noise over a little of 
divine love which happened to get down through a 
crevice into their hearts ; and it caused them so much 
surprise that they did not know what to make of it, 
or how to act. And I have seen others who have 
been so accustomed to being full of it that it has 
become a sort of second nature to them, and they do 
not seem to know any other way. Thier only sur- 
prise is to see a mouse trying to do an elephant's 
work. 

The great place to test perfect love is not in 
a prayer and holiness meeting when everything is 
warm and comfortable, but outside in the world, in 
business, in the community, and in the family circle ; 
when folks are plotting and planning to ruin you. If 
you can stand the slow, creeping chill of the tide- 
waters of persecution and ostracism, as they come up 
to overwhelm you from your own familiar friend who 
walked to the house of God and took sweet counsel 
together with you, and keep sweet and loving all 
the time, praying for him and going to him, and 
laboring to save him — if you can stand all this and 
much more — a sudden slap of the elements for 
11 



242 CBUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

variety's sake, first on this side and then on that, 
then '' perfect love " will have come into use. 

Then again, as another item of experience, one 
man will carry around an old, useless, rotten, ulcer- 
ated tooth in his head for a half-dozen years, hanging 
on to it, hating to part with it, making himself and 
everybody else around him miserable, and at last he 
musters up courage and concludes to have it out, and 
sits down in the dentist's chair, and has it extracted 
according to the new method, and he jumps up and 
shouts and sings and laughs, and " repeats the story 
o'er and o'er." Wherever he goes, it is the same 
story about that tooth, until people are bored to 
death with it, and he runs across some one with some 
sense as well as enthusiasm, and he simply replies, 
" Well, you silly goose, you might have enjoyed all 
you enjoy now years ago if you had had that tooth 
out ; you have simply lost a few years of comfort." 
But nothing daunted, he keeps the story going, and 
everybody he meets, he advises to go through the 
same experience that he did, and get the same joy, 
whether they have got a rotten tooth in their heads 
or not. And some innocent people, easily influenced, 
will sit down and let the dentist put on the gas, and 
wrench away on sound teeth a spell, and perhaps pull 
out two or three, if he does not know any better, and 
then they will get up and imagine they feel a great 
deal better, because they have been through the same 
thing as that other man did, and he felt better. 

This is unreasonable and unlikely, you say. Yet it 
has its counterpart in certain "holiness" circles. 
Holiness no sensible Christian objects to ; but he is 
often branded by them as objecting to it, if he objects 
to their views and methods concerning it. That a 



SANCTIFICATION. 243 

person must experience holiness or sanctification as a 
step higher in Christian experience after having fully 
submitted to God, been cleansed and filled with His 
Spirit, we believe to be unscriptural after many years 
canvass of the subject, provided they have in no 
degree lost their first estate ; and the added conclu- 
sion that God has with their co-operation sanctified 
them by setting them apart from sin, to work in some 
sphere for Him. And as most people do after a 
while lose some of their first estate, what is to be 
done, experience some new thing? No; the angel of 
the churches (Rev. 2 and 3) thought not. After giv- 
ing the church of Ephesus quite a commendation, he 
says, " Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee." 
What is it, that they had not taken the step of " a 
higher life," "experienced holiness," received "the 
second blessing"? No; it was "because they had 
left their first love." What is the remedy, to expe- 
rience "the second blessing"? Yes; by repenting 
and doing the first worhs^ and in no other way. And 
any other coin that does not have this scriptural ring 
to it, is counterfeit, and the Devil has got it in 
circulation. 

As man's own will is a factor in his salvation, it 
must inevitably occur to every candid mind that ex- 
periences will vary in length, breadth and thickness 
accordingly as it is used, and God be the same yes- 
terday, today and forever over all. Man can hasten 
his acceptance with God and his growth in grace, or 
retard it accordingly as he disobeys, rebels, or sub- 
mits and obeys. 

There are those who think that God does it all — 
they are kept by God, etc. But the fact is, there is as 
much Scripture to show that man keeps himself. 



244 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

Paul said, "Z keep my body under." And in another 
place the answer came to his prayer, " My grace is 
sufficient for thee," And, too, the same people say 
that God does it all ; that doing has passed by with 
thetn. And yet there is as much Scripture inciting 
Its to do well. " He that doeth righteousness is right- 
eous." And the same is true with the struggle and 
warfare. " He that endureth to the end shall be 
saved." What is the conclusion in the matter? 
That we are " workers together with God." We are 
partners in the work of our salvation, and we must 
fulfil our part, else our salvation will fall through ; 
but the Senior Member of the firm furnishes all the 
capital, and He will continue business at the old 
stand, and save somebody else. Some people are 
fond of new things. The Athenians were. I used 
to know a wheelwright in my native town who 
bought every new device in his business that came 
along until his shop was full of the useless things, his 
work behind in listening to their stories, and himself 
in poverty, because he feared he should be behind the 
times if he did not have it. 

It is a fact in experience that some men want to 
put in for dear life at big pay, and earn a year's liv- 
ing in a few months and loaf the rest of the year, 
while others keep jogging along at an even gait — 
miserable if out of work a day — and come out at 
the end of the year as well if not better off than the 
other man, and free from gout or rheumatism. The 
same is true in religious experience. " Let us not be 
weary in well doing " — or try to experience a harvest 
without doing — "for in due season we shall reap if 
we faint not." 



SANCTIFICATTON. 245 

"ENTIRE SANCTIFICATIOlSr." 

Some people and their ideas abound in adjectives. 
We hear a great deal about entire sanctification, but 
we do not remember of ever reading anything about 
it in the Bible. We read about sanctification there, 
and only one kind. You might as well talk about a 
black crow, a round sphere, or some sweet honey. 
God does not sanctify anybody the same as some 
folks carry on a rocky New Hampshire farm — at the 
halves. It is a bad job enough when the whole is 
involved. 

We hear also about being " wholly the Lord's." 
Well, you cannot be the Lord's any other way. He 
never accepted a half-sacrifice under the law, and we 
do not believe He has under the Gospel. "What 
concord hath Christ with Belial"? Christ never 
went into partnership yet with the Devil over a 
stingy soul. Just as though Christ was going to 
accept " a top mortgage " on a soul, when there is 
not enough to satisfy the bottom mortgage, which 
the Devil holds ! Humph ! It must take a man of 
more consequence than I ever saw yet to split up 
into halves and satisfy Christ and the Devil. 

Brother, you will be wholly the Lord's when you 
are the Lord's at all ; and that will be when you quit 
the Devil's business, and clear out of his company 
and that of his chums, and come over on the Lord's 
side. 

The Lord is not running a man on the double-track 
railroad system — trains going in the opposite direc- 
tion like lightning, loaded to death with the Devil's 
cargo, while we creep along on the other track under 
flag for the Celestial City. No, sir; it is single 



246 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

track, and Jesus Christ manager of the entire system, 
and all tiains going one way. Christ never cleaned 
np a place yet, and left a swill-tub on the premises. 
Men have done wonders and left wonders undone, 
which nobody but the Lord can do ; and when the 
Lord does it they will say, " This is the Lord's doing 
and it is marvelous in our eyes." 

Paul prayed that "the very God of peace may 
sanctify you loholly ; and that your whole spirit and 
soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the 
coming of the Lord Jesus Christ." That is the way 
it will be done if it is done at all. " Faithful is lie 
that calleth you, who also will do it." 

Without Holiness or wholeness no man will see 
the Lord; and it need not take twenty-four hours 
for the Lord to take a man from the slums of vice 
and make him fit to sit down with Abraham, Isaac 
and Jacob in the kingdom of God. Only the sancti- 
fied will ever share in the inheritance. Acts 20 : 32. 
Mark that. It is the saints, or sanctified ones, who 
will possess the kingdom. Dan 7 : 27. The idea 
which some advance that two classes of people will 
be saved — the justified and the sanctified, with the 
latter a notch above the former — is absurd and 
un scriptural. 

Men have made a wide difference between justifi- 
cation and sanctification to account for dilatory and 
disobedient experiences and sham profession and real 
possession ; but I do not note any great distinction 
in God's Word. There is a difference between soap 
and water, but both must go together to cleanse. The 
whole shower — thunder, lightning and rain — struck 
the Philippian jail the same night, and cleared off 
with beautiful sunshine the next mornino:. Then the 



SANCTIFIOATTON. 247 

jailer was as good as Paul. " What God hath 
cleansed, that call not thou common." And it takes 
no longer nor no more power on God's part to make 
a sinner fit for the kingdom of Heaven than to make 
a hog fit for a Jew's stomach. Acts 10 : 11-15. 

If people do not want to eat pork they need not, 
but there is no sin in one's doing so. And some 
people may turn up their noses at some one who was 
a sinner, Simon-fashion, because he has not been 
through their process of cleansing ; and still, no sin 
be in him at all, because Jesus' blood has been ap- 
plied there. Oh, I thank God that the foundation is 
not rickety yet ! " The Lord knoweth them that are 
His." 



PERFECTIOlSr. 

Mark the perfect man. Ps. 37: 37. 

Well, we are all ready. Bring him along. Where 
is he? Who is he ? Why, it is that man, you know, 
who believes in the doctrine of perfection, but whose 
tongue sometimes gets the start of him, and he 
"speaks out" offensively; he means all right. I can- 
not mark him. He may be a very good man, and 
eventually be saved by grace ; but I am not told to 
mark the very good man — the m:m who may be 
saved. I am instructed to mark the perfect man, and 
I want to know who he is. 

Well, you know that man who " offends not in 
word?" Yes, I see him — I know him — he is no 
stranger — I have known him as a neighbor for years, 
and have been in constant contact with him in his own 



248 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

family, and in business affairs, and I never heard him 
— and others " who are without " say the same — 
drop an unkind word, an unchristian word. His 
words seem to be the breath of Christ. Well, " the 
same is a perfect raan^ and also able to bridle the 
whole body." James 3:2. I will surely mark him 
so as to remember him. 

What, do you believe in perfection ? Yes, indeed. 
Considering the widespread imperfection all around, 
the prospect would be gloomy if there was no per- 
fection anywhere ; God is perfect ; Christ is perfect. 
But 'inan is not perfect. There are some perfect men 
somewhere, or God is a very tantalizing being to say 
in His Word " Mark the perfect man," when there 
are none to mark, and to incite us to strain our eyes 
to " behold the upright " when there are no upright to 
behold. 

If Diogenes with his lantern has never found one 
honest man — an upright, perfect man, it is because 
he went hunting in the wrong direction, and with the 
wrong lantern. Get the Word of God, which is " a 
lamp unto our feet," and be well filled with the 
Spirit ; and go as that directs the way, and look low 
enough and you will find the perfect man. And do 
not mark him till you find him. 

The great trouble with perfectionists is, they mark 
the wrong man self I They who do not get further 
than self in the search for a perfect man, may find 
him in their own eyes, but not in the eyes of other 
folks. 

The perfect man is liable to be found by somebody 
before he finds himself! As he goes, lantern in hand, 
in this sweet search, in blissful ignorance of himself, 
somebody will come along on the same errand and 



SANCTIFICATION. 249 

discover him^ and say to himself, " There is just tlie 
man I am looking after." And this may be reciprocal. 

In lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than 
themselves. Look not every man on his own things, bnt 
every man also on the things of others. Phil. 2 : 3, 4. 

Job was a "perfect and upright" man. Job 1 : 1. 
Why? Because in all his sore trials, capped with the 
climax of his wife going back on him and scolding 
him, "In all this did Job not sin with his lips." Job 
2: 10. Some can stand most anything, but when it 
begins to come near enough home to have the wife 
begin to blame them and scold them, there is liable to 
be a breeze. Some are peaceable to commence with, 
and well along toward the end ; bat the perfect man 
we are told to mark — ''the end of that man is 
peaceP He does not finish off with a scolding word. 
" All's well that ends well," and that is tlie case of 
the perfect man in his contact with those who abuse 
him. 

It is needless to cite the great array of Scripture 

which bears on this point, that there are perfect men 

— perfect in Christlikeness — and that the evidence 

of that perfection is in a controlled tongue, and that 

so we shall be judged at last. Matt. 12 : 37. So we 

say to all. Hold your tongue. But, like a freshly 

caught eel, it is a hard thing to hold ; how prone to 

slip ! And yet, as every fisherman knows, there is a 

certain grip (between his gills and the fins next to 

them) by which you can hold him no matter how 

much he squirms. And there is a certain grip by 

which we can hold our tongues, when they would get 

the start of us in evil speaking. That grip is the 

almighty and all abounding grace of God, implanted 
11* 



250 CRUMBS OF THE BKEAD OF LIFE. 

in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto 
us. You cannot do it yourself, perhaps, any more 
than the helpless inebriate can deny his cup ; but the 
same God who can take the appetite for strong drink 
from one man, can make another hold his tongue. 
"Peace! be still!" Out of self and baptized into 
Christ, is the only place of safety. 

Rock of Ages cleft for me, 
Let me hide myself in thee. 

Get into that refuge, and let the storm sweep by, 
and you may peek out and see how it goes on, and 
how the Rock stands it. But keep still, unless you 
have a song of deliverance to offer to the praise of 
His glory. 



SANCTIFICATION, 251 



CHAPTER IX. 



TRAVELING FOR A BLESSING. 

Some people will recite early and often lengthily, 
how they obtained a certain blessing; to what great 
lengths they went; the "Mecca" they visited; the 
shrine at which they bowed ; the hour of the day in 
which the blessing came, when they might have 
stayed at home and taken Christ by faith for their 
portion, and saved themselves the whole trouble. 
But then if you want to feel like a real Mohararaedan, 
there is nothing like going to Mecca; if you want to 
feel like a real Jew, there is nothing like going to 
Jerusalem and wailing in the '^ wailing place," and 
paying dear for the privilege ; but if " the word of 
faith which we preach " will satisfy — and " the word 
is nigh thee, even in thy mouth " — you may have 
Christ as the man of your counsel and your satisfying 
portion today, where you are ; for there is no ascend- 
ing nor descending — no " lo here's " nor " lo there's," 
necessary to bring Christ to your heart. 

If you want the blessing which men have invented 
and cardinalized, then you had better go where they 
are and get it, and then you can say you have got it ; 
but you can go to headquarters, get Christ, and get 
all there is that is worth having, and not leave your 
humble home if it is necessary for you to remain. 

There is nothing like striking for the heart of the 
town ; finding the true center ; getting into the mid« 
die of the loaf. " Christ is made unto us wisdom, 



252 CRUMBS OF THE BBEAD OF LIFE. 

righteousness and sanctification." He who gets Plim 
gets all these. But some people get blessed more 
with an idea than they do with Christ. Doubtless 
there are those who have become interested and 
elated with the idea of sanctification, who have no 
more of Christ in them than other people, which fact 
is confirmed by their evident lack of wisdom, and 
neglect of the practice of righteousness. Let us have 
Christ in us the hope of glory, and be well balanced. 



SANCTIFIED GRIT. 

Sanctified grit — by this term I do not mean gr?t 
made into putty, but made over to God — *' turned 
from the power of Satan unto God ; " out from the 
control of the Devil into the service of God. A 
hickory axe helve is as necessary in the work of 
God as in that of Satan. Some very foolish people 
who run away with a Gospel hint concerning the 
change in man's nature, which must obtain with his 
moral cleansing, seem to think that all really smart, 
useful traits in his character must be kept for the 
Devil and God have the leavings. *' The children of 
this world are wiser in their generation than the 
children of light." Some seem to be troubled with 
" fool in the head " from the time they espouse the 
cause of God. Reason seems dethroned because they 
mistakenly suppose it won't do to use that about 
religion ! That is what is the matter with much 
religion. 

Now that it is coming into use the frail crockery of 
superstition begins to break. It is not enough to 



SANCTIFCATION. 253 

have the Devil out of a man ; we must have all the 
good tools which the Devil has been useing and 
abusing, and have God enthroned there, using them 
to His glory, or that man's life will be a vacancy ; he 
will have a vacant look to his eyes and " see men as 
trees walking," and be forever lost in the soliloquy 
" Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ? " And the 
Christian life will be a sort of enigma or conundrum 
to him, which only the eternal day will solve. 

Brother, get at the work of God somewhere, with 
the tools you have ; and that grit which you have 
always had in other matters you will need in God's 
cause. Every engineer has a box full of it on top of 
his engine which, with a valve, he judiciously applies 
to the rails when there is danger of slipping. Cannot 
you get ahead any, brother, in the cause of truth, 
though you have put on all the steam? Perhaps you 
need to use more sand. It takes clear grit at times i 
it is the grit of faith. You go back to the beginning 
and trace the career of God's people down through 
the times and amid all discouragements some fellow 
who had grit, went ahead and took the prize. 

Caleb and Joshua said, " We are well able to go up 
and possess the land." It was sanctified spunk which 
was aroused. The three worthies who were to be 
put in the fiery furnace did not know how it was 
going to turn out, but they said, "We will not bow 
down." That settled it. That was grit worth hav- 
ing, and if many had it today their course would be 
straighter. 

Paul withstood Peter to his face because he was 
to be blamed. He had grit as well as grace. Men of 
putty whom the Devil can twist over his finger are 
worse than nobody in th^ cause of God. 



254 CRUMBS OF THE BEEAD OF LIFE. 

Brother, do you not need the grit to bring out a 
well-rounded I will not to the overtures of temptar 
tion ? Cry out with Joshua "As for me and my 
house weioill serve God." And with David "As for 
me I will behold thy face in righteousness." " I hate 
every false way." God needs a thousand willful 
persons today whose will it is to do His will and 
stick to it like as God sticks to them. The mean 
to's, the guess so's, and the suppose so's are nowhere, 
while the know so's, the do so's, and the I will's are 
pressing for the prize. 



CONSECRATION. 

It is a blessed and reasonable service to consecrate 
one's life and all to the Lord ; but it is also a serious 
and important matter, and never should be done " by 
vote of the house," with as little consideration as you 
would use in trivial matters. Solomon wisely said 
that it is better not to vow, than that thou shouldst 
vow and not pay. Eccl. 4 : 5. 

Some folks say they "want all there is for them 
in this life," in Christian experience, and so they 
go in for it. I wonder how much better off the cause 
of God is " financially " by the transaction. It is 
easy enough to go in for things which will make us 
no poorer and God no richer, and our public appear- 
ance more attractive. Simon, the sorcerer, had a 
self- end in view when he wanted the laying-on-of- 
hand' power ; but his consecration was only a selfish 
affair ; his heart was not in it ; he had an eye to Si- 
mon's business. Simon " still lives in the hearts of 
his countrymen." 



. CONSECRATION. 255 

Consecration is a heart matter — an affair of true 
love to God — a merging of self and all into the 
cause of God — a wheeling into line and marching 
forward, which affects all a man has, just as the bag- 
gage train and commissary department follow an 
army when it breaks camp and takes the line of march. 

God has got all the consecration vows " on file " up 
there, I suppose there is a stack of them there, and 
while He may look on some of them with perfect 
satisfaction, there are many which, as we say about 
some men's notes, are "not worth the paper they are 
written on." Why? Because of no heart in it. A 
home, heart consecration, is liable to be better than a 
camp-meeting vote. 

We have got into such a heartless habit of saying 
" yours truly " at the end of every letter we write for 
form's sake — meaningless — that our petitions and 
consecrations to God wind up with the usual " yours 
truly," with about the same meaning. There are a 
lot of " yours truly " Christians, but when the cause 
of God and of the poor comes around with the con- 
tribution box, they are " mine really " Christians. 

Brother, let us send up a line to God and iput yours 
truly at the bottom, over our signatures, and mean it, 
and stick to it as a good preacher does to his text. 
And let us not have any of that " Lord-and-what- 
shall-this-man-do " sort of consecration; but know 
the Master's will and do it, whether this man or that 
man does anything or not. 



256 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE. 

We often hear it said that no man can live up to 
the New Testament standard of character. Nothing 
truer was ever said. Truth is often spoken in igno- 
rance. The chief priests, scribes and elders thus 
spoke it when Christ hung on the cross : " He saved 
others ; Himself He cannot save." Matt. 27 : 42. 
The salvation of others depended upon Christ's per- 
ishing on the cross. 

Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the 
tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto right- 
eousness : by whose stripes ye were healed. 1 Pet. 2 : 24. 

No man in his own strength can live up to divine 
requirement. 

I am the vine, ye are the brandies. He that abideth in 
Me, and I in Him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for 
without Me ye can do nothing. John 15 : 5. 

" Severed from Me " ye can do nothing, the margin 
reads. 

Go out to your grape vine ; and as soon as it blos- 
soms out, cut off the cluster and expect grapes, if you 
expect a man to bring forth the fruits of Christian- 
ity, severed from Christ. Let the cluster remain con- 
nected to the vine, and let the juices of the stock 
ebb and flow through it ; let it have the benefit of 
sunshine and rain without ; and unless you are too 
much in a hurry, there will be fruit worth having. 

There is trouble with the connection of Christians 
to Christ, which is the reason of the deficiency in the 
fruitage. They may be " in Christ " in a theoreti- 
cal way, but Christ is not in them in a practical 



HOLINESS. 267 

sense, and so they act not much better than the 
non-professors. 

" He that abideth in Me, and I in Him," is the way 
it reads. There must be a mutual relation. Some 
are zealous for some particular doctrinal tenet — they 
are i*ed hot — yea, soon they are mad in argument 
over it. Perhaps they think they are the salt of the 
earth, but the fact is, Christ is not in them. There 
is no mutual connection. Heat an iron as hot as 
you please, but it will not weld to one that is cold. 
Both must be heated. Look out, friend, that Christ 
warms up well over the subject before you proceed 
to get heated over it. The old colored saint got it 
right, when bothered by the skeptic with the ques- 
tion how one could be in Christ and Christ in him 
at the same time. She took the poker and put it 
into the fire. "There, the poker is in the fire, is it 
not?" she inquired. "Yes," said he. In a few 
moments she drew it forth and held it up and asked, 
'•Is not the fire in the poker?" He was outwitted. 

It is not according to the philosophy of things 
that a stream should rise higher than its fountain 
or source. There must be a fountain of goodness 
higher than our own bosoms, else the stream will be 
simply human. There is ! 

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the 
knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, according as His 
divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain 
unto life and godliness through the knowledge of Him that 
hath called us to glory and virtue : whereby are given unto 
us exceeding great and precious promises : that by these ye 
might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped 
the corruption that is in the world through lust. 

Professions and outside show will never do what 



258 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

an inward nature can. My boy had a candy lion for 
Christmas — quite a ferocious-looking fellow — which 
he put upon the mantel-piece back of the stove to 
look at; but the heat soon made him lop over and 
appear limp. There was no lion nature in him. 
There are many candy Christians stuck up round to 
look at, but the heat of j^ersecution makes them lop 
over. We exhort you to " stand up for Jesus ; " but 
we do not expect you to stand up without a back- 
bone. We must have Jesus in us by His Holy Spirit 
in order to stand up for Him successfully. 

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy 
neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love 
your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them 
that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use 
you and persecute you. [ What for ? ] That ye may be the 
children of your Father which is in Heaven : for he maketh 
His sun to shine on the evil and on the good, and sendeth 
rain on the just and on the unjust. Matt. 5: 43-45. 

Children will show the traits of their father. 

What a family the Devil has ! Are you one of his, 
reader ? Well, you can be adopted into the divine 
family, and be made partaker of Christ by faith. 

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in 
Heaven is perfect. 

You are not to be perfect gods, but perfect chil- 
dren, showing the traits of your Father. A child's 
gait resembles that of his father, especially by con- 
stant association. " And Enoch walked with God 
three hundred years." Gen. 5 : 22, 24. Do you not 
suppose his gait came to resemble that of his Father ? 
But " grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord 
and Savior Jesus Christ." You are His at the 



HOLINESS. 259 

moment of adoption, and you will look and act more 
like Him as you grow in grace ; and you will grow m 
grace by being faithful with what you possess. 



HOLINESS. 

Holiness is wholeness. Some are wonderfully 
pious in spots. The Pharisees were so. With mur- 
der in their hearts, they could lead Jesus to the door 
of Pilate's house — and get up early in the morning 
to do it — but " they themselves went not into the 
judgment hall, lest they should be defiled ; but that 
they might eat the Passover." John 18 : 28. These 
were one kind of holiness people ; but Heaven help 
us from being of that kind. It was considered " an 
unlawful thing for a man that was a Jew to keep 
company, or come unto one of another nation " (Acts 
10 : 28), or for the " circumcised " to go "in to men 
un circumcised " and eat or commune with them. 
Acts 11 : 3. But this was a sectarian regulation of 
their own getting up ; and as long as folks paid 
attention to this and other rules of like origin and 
import, they were all right — in their own eyes — 
though they were devils at heart. 

It was on this wise that the woman of Samaria at 
the well of Jacob thought it strange that Jesus, 
being a Jew, should ask drink of her, as the Jews 
had no dealings with the Samaritans. John 4:9. 
But what did Jesus care for these sectarian trig^s 
under the wheels of Salvation? He could see prin- 
ciples which were of infinitely more importance than 
" the commandments of men." And had the Jews 



260 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

had their eyes open to the commandments of God, 
which were numerous enough to regulate any man's 
life by them, and are now, and not undertook to 
make rules to govern the conduct of folks, they prob- 
ably would have heen holy enough to have kept their 
hands off the Lord of glory. But as it was — keep- 
ing an eagle eye to outward appearances, fearing the 
commandments of men — they could keep company 
with him who, according to their own estimation, 
was a Samaritan and had a devil, until they got to 
the threshold of Gentile government. But to go 
in there would alter the looks of the thing — in 
their own eyes; they would be defiled; and feeling 
their self-righteous souls soiled by such a bold and 
unusual step, would spoil their saintly feelings while 
they should eat the Passover ! Oh, sham piety ! what 
deviltry hast thou not done ? What iniquities have 
not been concocted under thy spacious cloak ? 

Well, let us see to it that we do not fall into the 
same error. " History repeats itself." An observing 
eye can detect these same principles in practice now. 
A person may be as devoted a sectarian as was 
Saul of Tarsus on the way to Damascus, and be a 
very poor Christian. One may be anxious to call fire 
down and burn up some little village because they 
are not received, from this same motive. It is better 
to know what spirit we are of than to have so much 
zeal without that knowledge. God's judgment reck- 
ons upon our divine life as a whole. He has got a 
tester by which we can be examined, to see whether 
we are the same all through or not — same as butter 
buyers have, if butter sellers have not. He will 
empty our souls at the judgment in such a way as 
that we may see then^ if not before, how we are down 



HOLINESS. 261 

along — the same as a sensible man will do with a 
barrel of apples which he buys nowadays. God will 
at the judgment give to the assembled host the true 
dimensions of every little, stingy, sectarian soul ; the 
arithmetic of Heaven is fine enough to do that. To 
find the cubic measurement of a log fresh from the 
woods, the lumberman finds the length, then meas- 
ures the diameter at the middle, and thus he gets 
the true average. Some measure their own piety at 
the big end, and that of others at the small end; 
but, depend upon it, God will find the middle. 

Let us see to it that we have that holiness which 
is a xoholeness of Christian life. A Sunday night 
shout does not sanctify a week of unrighteous living 
and dealing. Put a good e very-day filling into your 
warp of faith. You may begin well, but to end well 
it should be well all along. Do not be as spotted as a 
leopard in your life ; mix your color on the start as 
you can hold out. Variety may be '* the spice of 
life ; " but some have most too much of this kind of 
spice to be healthy. Above all, do not " strain at a 
gnat and swallow a camel." Observe the Sabbath, 
but do good upon it. Do not get that spirit which 
would unloose your ox to let him drink on that day, 
and chide another for loosing a human being who 
has been bound for eighteen years. Do not let 
traditions ride over common sense. Commune with 
Heaven and you will not. 

Some are advocating sanctification or holiness from 
an unscriptural basis, when they declare that a jDerson 
cannot be sanctified, have a pure heart, be made holy, 
or be morally and spiritually fully saved from sin at 
conversion. That many are not we admit, because it 
is a day of superficial woi'k ; and on that account per- 



262 CRUMBS OP THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

haps they are justified in going around in doing the 
work over again. But if a justified or pardoned sin- 
ner, like a young child, is in a salvable state as they 
admit, we should think it would be a wiser use of 
energy to put it to work on the line of getting more 
sinners justified, seeing that they are going down to 
perdition in multitudes; and let some of the "old 
hopers" grind out their own salvation by hand "with 
fear and trembling." In other words, I believe in put- 
ting more time and talents into roughing out raw 
material just now; there are some now who have 
been rubbed, sandpapered and polished so much with 
holiness maneuvering that they are about spoiled. 

But I have no quarrel with them. One thing I do 
know, however : When the Lord took hold of the 
writer to redeem him spiritually from the death in 
trespasses and sins, he did not do it on the installment 
plan. If any other man is not served the same way it 
is his own fault. Sometimes when the shower is near 
enough, a man does not have time to reckon much 
between the flash of lightning and the thunder. I 
have seen people who would jump more at the sound 
of thunder than they would at the lightning; but it is 
the lightning that kills. When God's holy spirit fills 
a man's heart it spoils him for the society of this 
world ; and he might as well have it at one time as 
another. And if his subscription ever runs out, he 
can renew it at the old rate — submission and obedi^ 
ence to God. 

If a sinner cannot have the full joys of salvation at 
conversion, as is often said, but must start and be 
beached on the sand for a while until another tide 
comes in, it seems a poor encouragement for a fellow 
to start. Why not wait for the tide? "I believe a 



HOLINESS. 263 

pure heart is the birthright of every child of God," 
said a Methodist minister to the writer, said minister 
having preached on "Christian Perfection" in the 
writer's hearing. So we think ; and it is what, in this 
case, constitutes him '* a proper chiUl," and able to 
"grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, 
even Christ." 

There is considerable said about the removal of 
"inbred sin" from persons. We suppose they mean 
right, but it is an unfortunate use of unscriptural 
terms. It is misleading. Christ termed it " the 
unclean spirit" which goes out of a man. M:itt. 12: 
43. Children do not have that, " For of such is the 
kingdom of heaven." But children as well as adults 
have the organ of combativeness. In the full grown 
person or adult it is to be observed by a flat head and 
dista7ice between the ears. We have never heard of a 
person converted or sanctified yet that changed his 
physical organism. We have read about a certain 
Apostle who, though in the spirit, yet groaned " for 
the adoption, to wit, the redemption of the body." 
Rom. 8 : 23. We do believe though that the warped 
and twisted physical organism can be so gloriously 
surcharged by the wonder-working and abiding pres- 
ence of the grace of God as to be completely manage- 
able in the most aggravating straits! Wool did not 
commence to grow on the lions' backs as soon as ever 
Daniel got into the den, to indicate the presence of a 
lamb-like nature ; but God's angel shut their mouths 
and they stayed shut until He got really to let them 
come open. We may talk as much as we please about 
partaking of the divine nature here, but when we 
stop work for the Devil and go to work for God we 
have got to continue right on loith the old lathe. Yet 
blessed be God, we can belt on to the main Shaft ! 



264 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

A CLEAN HEART. 

"Create in me a clean heart," cried David. In 
other words he might have said with the same mean- 
ing, implant within me right motives. Motives 
make the man, i.e., the moral or immoral man, as the 
case may be, whether they are good or bad. Good 
men may, as it were, accidentally go wrong, but when 
a man deliberately goes wrong, knowingly, there is 
trouble in his motives. No amount of pious white- 
wash will make a vile heart clean. No amount of 
winding will make a watch go right when the internal 
vital parts are dirty. I took out my watch the other 
day to ascertain the time of day. It pointed gravely 
at nine o'clock. I knew better than that; it was 
nearly noon. What was the matter? Did not I 
wind it the last thing the previous night before 
retiring? Yes. Then I opened it and with a magni- 
fying glass I looked down into the gear. No wonder 
it would not run; it was entangled with lint. I 
released it with a needle, and away it went and has 
been going promptly ever since. Some people go 
through the routine of piety; they have prayers, they 
"say grace" at the table, they honor Christ with 
their lips while their heart is far from Him. But they 
do not run in the way of His commandments; they 
do not walk in the light. What is the matter? Ah! 
there are worldly entanglements. They need the 
power of the Holy Spirit with which to look into 
their own hearts ; they need to see themselves as God 
sees them, and be cleansed. 

We need not only to get clean and free but we 
must keep so. What would be the use of cleaning a 
watch and then to carry the works loose in your 



HOLINESS. 265 

pocket with dirt? We want God as a shield from 
the moral filth of this world as we go through it 
doing good; we want to be shut up in Him dirt-proof. 



OUR THOUGHTS. 

The prophet long ago said, " Let the unrighteous 

man forsake his thoughts (Isa. 55 : 7) ; but the fact is 

he cannot forsake his zmrighteous thoughts without 

running into some righteous thoughts. Literally 

sjDeaking, we cannot run away from our thoughts, for 

thought can outrun lightning; but we can get away 

from bad thoughts by getting into good ones and not 

leave our tracks. Man is a thinker. He is bound to 

think about something when not absorbed with the 

work in hand; and his thoughts will partake of that 

which controls his mind — what he sees, hears, etc. 

The " cud " of the ruminating animals, which they 

rechew, can consist only of that which has been eaten 

through the day. So our thoughts come from that 

which feed our minds — what we read, hear, see, etc. 

We are ruminants in this sense. How important 

then that these channels of our being are being filled 

with good things to vuminate over ! The dear little 

lambs cannot eat chaflT and sawdust and ruminate 

clover heads; neither can we read trashy literature, 

hear gossip, " see the styles," and get the blessing of 

"thinking upon His name" (Mai. 3: 16). It is sim- 

jDly a question of preoccupation of the mind. You 

cannot put shoddy on the spool and have "all wool" 

in the cloth. If we want the course of life to run full 

of divine grace, we shall have to take heed to who has 
12 



266 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

charge of the fountain. Good men have good 
thoughts; and good books and good papers are filled 
with them. And the same is true of bad men. 

We read of J3arnabas (Acts 11 : 24), th.it he was " a 
good man and full of the Holy Ghost and f.iith." 
That is a powerful combination of saving forces. The 
sequel is easily understood: "Much people was 
added unto the Lord." When bad men undertake to 
get filled with the Holy Ghost and faith, it is a fruit- 
less effort; when they fancy that they are thus filled 
they are deceived. First, a clean vessel; second, 
filled with divine fullness; third, a divine ministry — 
this is the Gospel order. 



HOLY CALMNESS. 

Nothing serves a man better than a cool head and 
quiet nerves. " He that ruleth his spirit is greater 
than he that taketh a city." Whence cometh this 
endowment ! It is the result not of mere talk, but 
of the practice of righteousness. Like many other- 
wise perplexing spiritual problems this is purely phil- 
osophical. It is a fact which is susceptible of medi- 
cal explanation and physical demonstration, that the 
fruit of righteousness is peace — another term for 
holy calmness. 

Many seem to run away with the idea that right- 
eousness consists in glorifying God in spirit only ; 
but I read a New Testament utterance that runneth 
on this wise : — 

What ! know ye not that your body is the temple of the 
Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye 
are not your own ? For ye are bought with a price : there- 
fore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which 
are God's. 1 Cor. 6: 19,20. 



PRACTICAL HOLINESS. 267 

This glorifying God in the hody^ you will see, 
stands first on the list here. And the body is so 
closely connected with spirit that you cannot have 
peace of mind and heart and at the same time dis- 
honor God with your body. 

I am not now referring to momentary experiences, 
but to the practices of life. I solemnly declare that 
much of the peace or holy calm which is the right- 
eous man's privilege to enjoy, is the simple result of 
righteous action with the body. Facts are stubborn 
things. High living as opposed to plain living, indul- 
gences in alcoholic drinks, the use of narcotics — like 
tobacco, opium, etc., sexual excesses, all of these 
things unship the nerves ; and a man or woman with 
shattered nerves will have a hard time trying to 
obtain the inestimable blessing of that peace which 
is so much the result of holy living. 

You cannot hope to impress on the thoughtful and 
observing that you enjoy deep-toned holiness, by 
your great y^ry or in the cause once in a while. They 
look to your everyday balance. People may talk to 
me till doomsday about experiencing sanctification 
and holiness, but when I see how unbalanced they 
are in their daily life — how easily they " flare up," 
and retaliate with words — how prone they are to 
fret and worry — how morose and ill-tempered they 
get under so little provocation, I make up my mind 
that they need to know the sweetness and peace that 
comes from practicing holiness. Sin brings agitation, 
and righteousness brings peace ; and this is true unto 
children's children, so far as the law of physical 
inheritance goes, and you ought to know that it goes 
a great way with us. Show me a man who is de- 
scended from several generations of righteous per- 



268 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

sons, and I will show you a man who has sufficient 
physical stamina to manifest that strength of nerve 
that enters largely into the uniformity of Christian 
character ; unless by his own doing he has shattered 
his nerves and made a wreck of himself. There are 
facts in nature which are well for us to consider in 
^connection with revelation. Nature in her demands, 
and in lamentations resulting from infringing upon 
her requirements, may, unless Jesus should interfere, 
reach unto the resurrection day. 

Calmness and peace of soul ! Who does not covet 
it as a blissful contrast to this sin-bewitched life? 
Are we in the deepest despair of ever attaining such a 
glorious state ? Is there hope for us ? Yes ! Look 
at the boiling, maddened Sea of Galilee, tempest-tossed 
one, and hear the Master's words, " Peace be still," 
and know of the blessed calm ! So you can experi- 
ence calmness ; but remember that Galilee did not 
always after keep calm, and so you may not unless 
prayerfully you endeavor to practice a life of holi- 
ness. Oh, how much we need that calmness which 
Christ our great example manifested when abused 
and insulted. Wicked men may in a stolid way 
appear calm but a time comes on apace when their 
manufactured calmness must give way. But, lo ! the 
righteous man ! Let the enrth be moved ; let the 
lightnings of impending judgment dart about him; 
let the islands move out of their places ; let the 
mountains bow their heads; let the heavens part as a 
scroll, and he is calm. 

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with 
God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom. 5 : 1. 

Why then should he be over-agitated at the com- 
ing of Christ ? 



JESUS ONLY. 269 



CHAPTER X. 



THE PLACE FOR OUR AFFECTIONS. 

The proper place for our affections is upon Jesus. 
By nature they are not there; they are upon self, and 
the attractions of this sinful world. Conversion is 
simply taking them from the latter and placing them 
upon the former. We say '* simply," but we do not 
mean by that that it is a trivial transaction ; it takes 
a mighty revolution in the soul to effect the result, 
and the Holy Spirit is the chief factor in the contest, 
which may be short and may be long, according to the 
yielding of the person. 

The center of attraction is Jesus ; and the Gospel 
falls short of its mission unless its servants, true to 
him who first preached Jesus, keep alive and promi- 
nent the spirit of his cry : " Behold the Lamb of God, 
which taketh away the sin of the world." John, the 
forerunner, was not preaching John ; he was preach- 
ing Jesus. He would not allow them to become too 
much enamored with himself. Just as soon as he had 
sufficiently got their attention, and them prepared for 
it, he diverts their whole mind into the right channel : 

I baptize with water; brt there standeth one among you, 
whom ye know not; he it is, who coming after me is pre- 
ferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to 
unloose. . . . The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto 
him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh 
away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, 
After me cometh a man which is preferred before me ; for 



270 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

he was before me. . . . Again the next day after, John 
stood, and two of his disciples; (Mark you, two of John's 
disciples;) and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, 
Behold the the Lamb of God ! And the two disciples heard 
him speak, and they followed Jesus/' 

You see if Jesus had not been the ultimatum of 
John's Gospel he would have felt queerly to have his 
disciples leave him and go after somebody else. 
Evangelists and Christian workers must crave atten- 
tion only to direct it where it belongs. Right here 
are dangers to them who have become popular. With 
the public, as to unpalatable truth, and to individuals, 
as to their chief love as they pass around you, you 
must, with John, be willing to "decrease" that Jesus 
may '* increase." Christ must be "all in all." You 
see how unceremoniously John was thrown into 
prison, and the light of his fame was put out. No 
doubt it was for the best; having done his work, the 
attention of the people could be now held by Jesus 
and not divided by John. 

Co-laborers with John, in inviting sinners to Christ, 
were Andrew and Philip. This same first chapter of 
John's Gospel contains the account of their labors. 
So well begun and kept up by all of the Lord's true 
servants: let us continue it. Now comes our point. 
We meant at the first, to contrast with this John 
and his co-workers, much of the church effort of our 
own time, to set you to thinking — thinking for the 
better. 

What do we hear now above every sound : 
" Behold the Lamb of God " ; see Jesus and be saved, 
neighbor, brother, sister, friend! Some, but not 
enough. Here it is, first, by the preacher in his desk : 
Behold our denomination ; see its vastness, its wealth, 



JESUS ONLY. 271 

its education, its distinctive doctrines ! Then in turn 
the church members take it up : See our minister ; he 
is handsome, smart, charmingly agreeable, classic; 
graduated at Worldly Wiseman College, been to 
Europe, and lectures this very Sunday evening on his 
travels abroad. Come, go with me tonight; you will 
be delighted. The warp and woof of modern mission- 
ary spirit in many localities is still farther carried on : 
See our chunjh membership ; all the prominent men 
in the place belong to it. See the edifice itself; cost 
seventy thousand dollars; (an under-breath might 
add: And worth forty thousand dollars on to-mor- 
row's auction block, with a thirty thousand dollar 
shaving to come off the mortgage ;) nicely frescoed 
and carpeted. See the organ ! and the choir ! Best 
in town, highest salaries, all in charge of Mr. Devil 
Inside. All these and many more things are gotten 
up to " draw a house." Do they draw them to Jesus ? 
We think not. 

If you hold out these things as bait, they want the 
same loaf continually after they get there. Now 
instead of this way of attracting people to church, 
and trembling to say anything to them about Jesus 
after you get there, reverse it. " Preach unto them 
Jesus" the first; if He is not attractive enough, woe 
to other attractions. John's auditorium was Jordan's 
banks; his baptismal font, its waters; the church fres- 
coing, Heaven itself, his raiment, the skin and hair of 
a beast; his diet, locusts and honey; his education, 
God-given by the tutorship of the Holy Spirit. All 
these were good enough — why ? Because sufficient 
to point men to the Lamb of God ; not to the artifices 
of Judea. What the church wants is not the natural 
attractions, but the inward, supernatural attraction of 



272 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

the Holy Spirit. More tinsel is not wanted, but more 
God-begotten love in the souls of the church mem- 
bers. Instead of furnishing a mere entertainment for 
people, you want to supply unto them the gang plank 
to eternal salvation. Ring out the gist of the Gospel: 
"Set your affections on things above, not on things 
on the earth." 



LOST POWER. 

Heavy weights are sometimes raised by a long 
lever over a small stone which constitutes the ful- 
crum. When the lever has been placed under the 
stone in a vertical position over the fulcrum, and 
brought down to the ground once, by force, you have 
used all your power, and can do nothing more until 
you trig up what you have done and move your ful- 
crum nearer the object, or get a larger one. So some, 
yea, almost all, start out in the Master's work, and do 
splendidly for a while ; but soon, or after a while, you 
notice that they have lost their former power; and 
there seems to be an utter stand-still in their progress. 
The amount of it is, they have exhausted their power, 
and can do nothing more until the fulcrum is changed. 
Not that direct Divine power can be exhausted, but 
human power has crept in — spiritual pride, self-con- 
ceit, high-mindedness and the like — and displaced 
the Divine. 

Now in the case of every such earnest soul, who has 
thus unwittingly and unintentionally become impotent 
in spirit, though mighty in appearance, the Almighty 
changes the fulcrum of his power for him, that he 
may see where the true power comes from. If he 



CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST. 273 

feels grandly over his pedigree after the flesh, the 
Lord will give him truth to digest and proclaim, 
which will make him haul down the gaudy flag of per- 
sonal reputation, where it will be in brotherly com- 
pany with that of Jesus Christ when among us. If he 
is leaning too hard on his nice property, the Lord may 
have to require him to "sell all that he hath, and give 
to the poor," before he can see any treasure in Heaven, 
or follow Christ as he ought. If he is in any way 
become too much enamored of self to present the 
Lamb of God to the world, who taketh away their sin, 
God will adopt some means to show him, as he did 
Peter, how finite he is nnd how infinite the Lord is. 

A great many afflictions, those which we have 
named, and many more, as sickness and death in the 
family, which seemed so disastrous to all future labors 
are often but the hand of the Lord changing the ful- 
crum of power, that we may be more successful in his 
service. " We have this treasure in earthen vessels 
that the excellency of the power may be of God and 
not of us." The pivot of Divine power is the cross of 
Christ. In that we may, with the great Apostle to the 
Gentiles, glory, and move the world to conviction, if 
not unto repentance and conversion. 



READING LIFE UPSIDE DOWN. 

As soon as I sit down to read a paper, my little 
boy of two summers must have a paper too, and 
sit dowii beside me; but he just as soon have his 
paper upside down as anyway, because he does not 
know any better. It is all unintelligible to him. 
12* 



274 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

Much SO it is with children of a larger growth in 
their sinful, unregenerated state. Out of harmony 
with their Creator, they see things, as it were, upside 
down. No divinely intelligent picture is formed on 
their obtuse, oblique moral natures. 

Saith the prophet of the Savior concerning this 
class : He is " as a root out of a dry ground : he hath 
no form nor comeliness ; and when we shall see Him, 
there is no beauty that we should desire Him." Isa. 
53 : 2. Not that there is really no beauty in the 
Savior, but they do not see it. Such need to be 
" born again " — to be regenerated morally and spirit- 
ually — to be transformed by the renewing of their 
minds that they may prove what is that good and ac- 
ceptable and perfect will of God — to be revolution- 
ized — in short to be turned right side up. That was 
the intent of Paul's preaching. Unconsciously they 
spoke the truth concerning him : " This fellow turn- 
eth the world upside down." That is what the 
world needs. When we get a man cleansed of sin, 
and inverted by the Gospel so that he sees things as 
they are, and he begins to shout, " Where I was once 
blind now I see," how foolish he appears to them. 

There is many a professing Christian who is only 
half turned right side up; he sees "men as trees, 
walking": he does not enjoy full light and peace; 
he cannot enter into the zest that others enjoy. 
And there is good reason why he cannot see what 
they see ; he is looking from a wrong angle ; there 
is a blur upon his spiritual vision. A half-dozen 
children may be taking turns looking through some 
stereoscope or microscope at some wonderful view or 
sight ; but that little fellow does not shout till he 
gets the proper view, and then it is Oh ! Children 



EXPERIENCE. 275 

are not filled with hypocrisy, and shout with nothing 
to shout over. Neither should we be. If the Lord 
has not wrought the right work in us to see what 
others see, and enjoy what they enjoy, let us thank 
Him for what we already see and enjoy, and seek 
diligently for more to rejoice over before we under- 
take to shout as others shout. The Lord has mon- 
keys enough in the woods, without human beings 
making themselves such by trying to imitate other's 
joys, experiences and gifts. 

Then we shall know, if we follow on to know the Lord : 
His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall 
come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rains 
unto the earth. Hos. 6 : 3. 

Looking at life right side up — in harmony with 
the Creator — is the only way to understand it and 
enjoy it. Get into this position at once, you upon 
whom life seems a burden ; and avoid a suicide's 
grave. Be willing to be anything for God — thank- 
ful that you can be something. 



TRANSFORMATION. 

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye trans- 
formed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove 
what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. 
Rom. 12: 2. 

When the Gospel first comes to man it finds him in 
a warped, twisted, crooked condition, morally and 
spiritually as well as physically; and when Allowed 
free course it commences to straighten him out where 
he curled up in the first place ; in the spiritual depart- 



276 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

ment. According to the old adage, " When you are 
with the Romans do as the Romans do," he has bent 
himself, or conformed himself to the circumstances of 
this wicked world. Sin has found him plastic to all 
its depths of degradation. When the intoxicating 
beverage is passed to him he imbibes "just to be 
social," does not want to make of himself a spectacle 
or target for drunkards' arrows. In all the various 
forms of vice and worldliness, I say, the Gospel finds 
us as rigid as death, conformed to it like iron in a 
mold. Then comes the melting down process, the 
casting into another and better mold, the transforma- 
tion of the moral man. Brother, have you allowed 
the Word of God in your personal experience to run 
and be glorified? Or do you want the image of 
Christ on one side of your experience and Caesar on 
the other? You cannot have it so. Christ will not 
be stamped into any such relation. Separation here ! 
'* Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and 
unto God the things that are God's." Whose sheep 
is that with the marks of two ownerships in his body? 
Not Christ's ; for he never will make a referee of the 
Devil to settle the case of a disputed sheep. " Come 
over on the Lord's side" — clear over, so that there 
need be no wrangle about whose you are. Such was 
Paul: "From henceforth let no man trouble me: for 
I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." 
Gal. 6 : 17. There then will be nobody around to 
trouble you with an invitation to the theater or ball- 
room ; you are a marked man. Oh, thnt the world 
had some more men of mark, like this hero of the 
cross, totiay. 

"Transformed." How? "By the renewing of 
your mind." Then it is a mental or heart transform a- 



SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD. 277 

tion that the Lord wants. He who has never been 
the subject of divine reformation is low- minded, some 
being worse than others. His mind is ruled by the 
spirit of this world wherever you put him, unless a 
spark of righteous ancestry gives him sufficient 
stamina of morality to stand up and say, No, I won't 
descend to such meanness. But it will take Gospel 
salt to keep the best of us from spoiling; the worse 
the association, the more salt. And there is chance 
enough in most of us in nature (to say nothing of 
profession in grace) for a grand transformation of 
mind and heart to be worked. It will produce a radi- 
cal change. *' For whom he did foreknow he also did 
predestinate to be conformed to the image of his 
Son." Rom. 8 : 29. This is the conformity required. 
And it is a predestination of characters instead of 
persons. " Whosoever will may come." There is a 
blank in the form left for the name. Shall then one 
be filled out for you, reader? An angel with blood- 
dipped pen is ready to inscribe your name in the 
Book of Life. 

For our conversation is in Heaven ; from whence also we 
look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change 
our vile body, that it may be fashioned like untohis glorious 
body, according to the working whereby he is able even to 
subdue all things unto himself. Phil. 3 : 20, 21. 

We must first have a heavenly transformation of 
mind so that we rather talk about that other world 
than this. That is what that prefix trans literally 
means across: Transatlantic means across the 
Atlantic. Transformed or formed in mind as they are 
across the scenes of this life over in the beyond. Oh, 
for a church like that ! What work she would turn 



278 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

out for God ! Does this transformation work out 
fairs, festivals, and oyster suppers, or is there some- 
thing in this world like that? Is the church to be 
conformed to the world — lower herself down to the 
world so it will be easy to get the world in, or should 
she be transformed to heavenly scenes, have her con- 
versation there and lift up a fallen world? Judge, ye. 
When a man is mentally in Heaven he will be more 
anxious to make an angel smile than to court the 
good graces of rich sinners. 

Then when all moral, mental, spiritual transforma- 
tion that can be, has been accomplished, comes that 
other transformation — the mshioning of these vile 
bodies like unto Christ's glorious body. That is the 
easiest of the lot, for our wills are not in the way of 
the working of Divine power in that case. 

jTAa^ transformation to our minds may seem diffi- 
cult — and it would be if to be done according to the 
working whereby we are able to subdue things. But 
it is not. It is to be done according to the working 
whereby Christ is able. That makes all the difference 
in the world. Oh, what a change that will be! ?See 
that poor deformed brother, the very image of Christ, 
spiritually speaking. Look at him now and think of 
him, stalwart in physical perfection, straight as an 
arrow, and athletic as an angel! Th it will all ba 
done in due time. All the canes, crutches, artificial 
legs and teeth, trusses, and everything else to hold 
the poor body up in shape will be consii^ned to the 
consuming fire, while their owners will mount the 
skies to meet the Lord in the air. That will all come 
about in due time. Do not worry about that. 
Attend to that which is more important for us to see 
to now, Hbaet Transformation. 



FREEDOM IK CHRIST. 279 

BURDENED AND FREE. 

The true Christian is burdened to some extent. 
We must "bear one another's burdens and so fulfill 
the law of Christ." Gal. 6 : 2. "For every man 
shall bear his own burden," 5th verse. This occurs 
in the same epistle wherein Paul says " Stand fast 
therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made 
us free," etc. Gal 5: 1. Again, "For we that are 
in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened." 2 Cor. 
5 : 4. From these and other kindred passages which 
agree with our own experiences we learn that the 
day of physical freedom and perfection has not yet 
arrived. That is what we "see not," yet "hope 
for"; "and with patience wait for it." Rom. 8: 25. 
And the hope for that^ saves us now from our sins. 
Rom 8 : 25. " For we are saved by hope " now^ 
morally; but in the future, when Christ comes "the 
second time without sin unto salvation" (Heb. 9: 
28) we shall be saved in reality. This hope is " as an 
anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast." Heb. 6 
19. A man repairs the last course of shingle or 
slate on the roof of a high building in safety by hav- 
ing a rope around his body and the other end firmly 
hooked to the ridge-pole. So we may in safety do 
our last work down here amid the perils of the last 
days, while we have this hope fastened well to us and 
the other end entered to ^' that within the veil." 

Yes, we must be free from sin now in order to 
work successfully in the saving of others. How can 
a man rescue others from danger unless his own feet 
" stand fast " ? We want to " stand fast in the 
liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free." We 
want no burdens that He does not put upon us. 



280 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

" He shall save His people from their sins " or else 
His name is not " Jesus." Mat. 1 : 21. We are to 
" lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so 
easily beset us." Heb. 12: 1. What success will 
the Christian have running the race set before him 
if he has got to lug the Devil under one arm ? Christ 
says: **My yoke is easy and my burden is light." 
Therefore you are expected to " run the race with 
patience!''' But some are terribly impatient in the 
way. Doubtless they are fretting with burdens 
which should be laid aside. Are you "weary and 
heavy laden?" Come to Christ and find "rest." 
" You who are troubled rest with us." " If the 
Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free 
indeed." John 8 : 36. If you would consult your 
own comfort, obtain the freedom which Christ will 
make for you, get into Christ and beckon others to 
come ; not be a guide-board standing, pointing the 
way, and not going. 



ASSURANCE. 

When a man is on a journey to a certain place 
where he has never been, he wants to know whether 
he is on the right road or not. There is no satisfac- 
tion, comfort nor profit in uncertainty. If he is going 
wrong, every step leads him farther from the right, 
and time must be consumed and pains taken to return 
to the correct starting point. If he is proceeding 
right he should know it, that he may put more vigor 
into his steps to reach the goal in time. How does 
a man on such a journey have such an assurance that 



ASSURANCE. 281 

he is going in the right way? Well, sometimes by a 
guide, if another man happens to be going that way 
who is familiar with the route ; or, if he is able, to 
hire one if no one is going; otherwise he must depend 
on the directions of others who have been that way, 
which they give him before he starts, or have left on 
record for his benefit. These directions may read: 
" When you come to a certain rough, almost impassa- 
ble place, over clifis and ledges which are infested 
with rattlesnakes, do not be frightened nor discour- 
aged, for that is the way; see the trees which others 
have spotted, and the bones at the giant's cave, and 
rejoice that your journey's end is near." 

So the Christian life is a journey, in the which we 
not only have the printed directions of "the Captain 
of our salvation " who has gone ahead, and of others 
a-so to follow, but we have a guide — the Holy Spirit 
— to accompany us all the way as a Comforter, bring- 
ing to our remembrance what has been written for 
our learning by others. Here are some of the direc- 
tions which are intended to produce assurance in the 
Chiistian's heart. 

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute 
you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, 
for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is 
your reward in heaven : for so persecuted they the prophets 
which were before you. Matt. 5: 11, 12. 

Why rejoice in all this ? Because it is positive evi- 
dence that you are on the right road. " Well," says 
one, " I do not shout until I get out of the woods." 
Well, you ought to rejoice that you are in the way 
that will lead vou out. 



282 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

Here is a warni»g to those who prefer human to 
Divine comfort as they go along : 

Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for 
so did their fathers to the false prophets. Luke 6 : 26. 

Some folks think more of tlie opinion of others than 
they do of the right way ; but there are others who 
mean to be guided by God's mind as revealed in his 
Word, if it does run across the opinions of men. 

Here is another hint which some are humble enough 
to see, and how they do rejoice over it! There is 
nothing like it to produce assurance, and double the 
diligence of the Christian worker : — 

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look 
up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth 
nigh. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to 
pass, know ye that the kingdom of Grod is nigh at hand. 
Luke 21: 28, 3L 

What more can the Christian have to cheer him 
than the witness of the Spirit that he is a child of 
God, and these signs by the way to show him about 
where he is on the journey ? Some try to maintain 
Christian life and assurance by the manifestation of 
the Spirit alone; but such assurance is unstable. . 

There is a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto we do 
well to take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark 
place, until the day dawn. Thy word is a lamp unto my 
feet and a light unto my path. 

The Spirit and the Word go together; the Spirit 
leads by the Word. Then let us look to the Word 
for direction, and be comforted by the Spirit, and be 
assured of our position. 



ASSURANCE. 283 

"THE FULL ASSURANCE OF HOPE." — 
Heb. 6: 11. 

There is many a doubting soul who has ever been 
wondering "Am I His, or am I not," who should 
know and feel the assurance which goes with the 
Gospel. And to know this you must read your "Pol- 
icy." Assurance is only another name for insurance ; 
and every insurance company grants a policy to the 
insured which sets forth the considerations, condi- 
tions, promises, and agreements which you enter into 
with the company. So instead of worrying whether 
you are really insured or not, you should get that 
dusty policy out of the desk and go to examining it, 
and see if you have complied with the conditions 
therein set forth. The terms are there. If you are 
violating those terms, you have no right to feel 
assured. But, on the other hand, perhaps there are 
promises there which, if you familiarize yourself more 
with them, will make you feel more assured than you 
have been feeling. 

So the Bible is the Christian's policy of assurance 
which God has given him. It contains the consider- 
ations, conditions, promises and agreements which 
you enter into with the Lord Almighty. You should 
study that book as an engineer studies his running 
time-table, and run accordingly. Remember, all 
assurance is conditional, whether in these petty life 
insurance companies here or in God's eternal life 
insurance company. If you are insured in a life 
insurance company here, there are conditions speci- 
fied in your policy, which, if violated on your part, 
renders your insurance void. For instance, you are 
perhaps not to travel south of " Mason and Dixon's 



284 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

line " on account of the yellow fever there. What 
would your company think of you if you should go 
loitering about a powder magazine smoking a cigar ? 

Just so with Gospel assurance. You are to keep 
within the lines of holy living if you want to feel 
assurance without smothering conscience. It is 
" extra hazardous " for professed Christians to go to 
the theater, visit the ball-room, play games, or go to 
the grog shop. That is smoking in a powder maga- 
zine. That is going beyond the Mason and Dixon 
line of the Gospel ; and of course you cannot feel the 
assurance that some do who go according to the 
policy. 

Then the choice of companions has much to do 
with the probabilities of a Christian's upright living. 
He is '' not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor 
sit in the seat of the scornful." " Birds of a feather 
flock together " is a saying which is not Scripture, 
but it is true enough to be there. We read in Acts 
that when a certain crowd dispersed, that " each went 
to his own company." It is just as natural as for 
water to run down hill. Then if you profess to be a 
Christian, always gather with Christian people. 
" Oh, cannot we go among sinners and do them 
good ? " Yes ; but take heed that you do not do 
them the good that a lamb does a lion by going into 
his den — a good meal in the lion's stomach. 

In other words, if you want the assurance of the 
government at your back, look out and keep your 
"stripes "on; do not get above nor below rank. 
Keep your place and keep your sword. Do not make 
undue love to rebels in this holy war. This is no 
scrimmage gotten up by a few blood-thirsty leaders 
who are seeking office and honor, and have duped 



ASS CTKANCE. 285 

you into it. No, no. The issues of this war should 
interest the whole rank and file. Then do not run 
over to the enemy and cook your coffee. 

Again I say, look to your companionship. It is 
not enough that you are marching. Look up and see 
who you are marching with ; by that means your eyes 
may be open to the fact where you are marching to, 
" Gather not my soul with sinful men." Split no dif- 
ferences between Christ and the world. Get clear 
over into the camp of Israel, and get all the good 
there is there, and shout to your heart's content. 



286 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 



CHAPTER XI. 



FINDING OUT THE DEVIL. 

The history of Judas Iscariot is not written with- 
out its profitable lesson. Indeed, we think the 
choosing of this hypocrite as on^ of the twelve was 
to fulfill the Scriptures, and add thereto such practi- 
cal lessons as would be for our benefit in dealing 
with such persons in the church and community. 
Jesus knew His men inside and out when He chose 
them. John 13 : 18, and 6 : 70, 71. 

Sometime before Jesus' death He announced to 
the twelve that one of 'their number was a devil at 
heart; and thenceforth there became such a heart- 
searching among themselves and earnest inquiry of 
the Lord as never before. This teaches us in these 
days of extreme wickedness, when hollow-hearted 
men are apt to creep into the church, and things do 
not go right, not to be too hasty to condemn any one 
until they are proven. Instead of doing so, we 
should commence a rigid heart-searching, and be 
much in earnest prayer to the Lord to discover unto 
us the cause of the blockade in the way of pushing 
ahead the Gospel wheels. " Lord, is it I ? " 

We find in the case of the twelve that the devil 
was found out in due time. If a man is guilty 
before God in the church, and is thought to be so, 
although not positively known, there needs to be no 
investigation meetings ; he will convict himself if 
you let him alone, as did Judas. 



ASSUKANCE. 287 

We learn another thing, that the disciples did not 
have to wait in this painful suspense until the expi- 
ration of their lives, or the day of judgment, to find 
out their acceptance with the Lord and the manifes- 
tation of the evil one. It was only a few days before 
the traitor was discovered, and they could " rejoice 
not in iniquity," but " in the truth," that the evil was 
manifest and their innocence established. 

This was an object-lesson of Divine assurance. 
The disciples may have felt restive under the saying 
of the Lord — " Ye are not all clean " — and that it 
was not for them to feel entirely cleansed from sin ; 
but when He said, a little farther on, " I speak not of 
you all," and told them that one should betray Him ; 
and when they saw the truth acted out before their 
eyes, how blessed they must have felt. 

You need not tell me that it is not for us to know 
now whether we are guilty or acquitted before the 
Lord or not. These things are manifest now to us 
but " the world knoweth us not because it knew Him 
not." The day, however, is coming when " the man- 
ifestation of the sons of God " to the world will take 
place. 

This application of the lesson of Judas, primarily 
to the church, where it belongs, is no truer than to 
neighborhoods and other associations. I have seen 
neighborhoods in a social uproar on account of some 
Judas among them. Let all good-minded people, 
like David, when lies are forged about them, attend 
to the keeping of the precepts of the Lord with their 
whole heart, and it will not be long before this Judas 
will spin out his or her alotted length of deviltry, 
and thus with a froward mouth " gush out his or her 
own bowels." 



288 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

It is almost unbearable to suffer, being consciously 
innocent, as many sometimes have to do at the best 
in the associations of this life, but "it is better to 
suffer for well doing than for evil doing." We have 
the privilege of " committing ourselves to Him who 
judgeth righteously," and emulating the example of 
our Lord and Master. " Nevertheless the foundation 
standeth sure, having this seal — " The Lord know- 
eth them that are His." " Vengeance is mine ; I 
will repay saith the Lord." 



WIPING OFF MUB. 

The practice of keeping one's clothes neat and 
tidy is commendable. But let a person be ever so 
fastidious in that way, he is quite liable to get his 
clothes spattered with mud while traveling a muddy 
road. Well, what does he do in that case? If he 
has got more zeal than patience he will attend to 
wiping it off just as fast as it comes on, and thus 
make matters worse every time. But if he ever had 
any experience in that line, or learned anything by 
anybody else, he will be in no hurry to wipe off fresh 
mud ; he will let it dry, and then it will fall off itself, 
or with but little effort. 

Well, God wants us to be clean as we travel the 
narrow way to everlasting life and glory, and we want 
to be so ourselves. We must have that pure religion 
which is described in James as keeping us " unspotted 
from the world," so far forth as any act of our own is 
concerned. But there are others who are traveling 



KEEPING POWEB. 289 

in this way ; some going with us, others returning. 
Bedaubed themselves, they envy the cleanliness of 
Brother Tidy, and give him a dab of the mud. 
Brother Tidy has heard of the patience of Job, and 
seen the pity of the Lord; and has learned that 
there is happiness in enduring the mud-spatteirngs 
of others. He is in no hurry to rub it off. He 
knows he did not put it there. So jogging along he 
goes singing : — 

If for good you've taken ill, 

Let it pass, let it pass; 
O be kind and gentle still — 

Let it pass. 
Time at last makes all things straight, 
Let us not resent, but wait, 
And our triumph shall be great — 

Let it pass. 

And lo ! and behold ! through much happy sunshine 
the mud has dried up and blown away, " Go thou 
and do likewise." 



KEEPING POWER. 

Some professed Christians are as sensitive to 
destructive and decomposing influences, as a pan of 
milk in a thunder shower — one clap of thunder, and 
they are all "bonny-clapper;" and thenceforth they 
become the swill-pot of the whole church, and would 
almost sour everybody that comes in contact with 
them. The influence of one backslider is worse than 
that of ten unconverted persons. Right in the face 
of the commands of God. 



290 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for 
wherein is he to be accounted of? Isa. 2: 22 — Put not 
your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there 
is no help. Psa. 146 : 3. 

There are raany who are ever pinning their faith on 
the sleeve of some one who is their beau-ideal of per- 
fection. Hear the inspired warning of such a course : 

It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in 
man. Psa. 118: 8. Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the 
man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and 
whose heart departeth from the Lord. Jer. 17 : 6. 

And when such an erring, frail mortal (as the best 
of men are), upon whom their faith is pinned goes 
down under temptation and trial, away go they who 
trust in him. 

Again, there is another class who trust in and wor- 
ship the denominational church which they attend. 
As the church rises or lowers in spirituality, up and 
down they go like a cork buoy on the waves. If the 
leaders of the church are flawless under their awful 
scrutiny, (!) then they will shout for it loud and long; 
but if they make a blunder or step aside from their 
ideas of things; then, instead of having true loyalty 
like that in the members of their own body which 
causes all the members to suffer with the erring and 
suffering ones (and which is divinely used to illustrate 
the inseparable communion in the body of Christ — 
the church), away they go to some other fold. 

How would it look for a brother or sister to turn 
their backs on their home and forsake it, every time 
one of the family did even a disgraceful thing ? 
Would it help matters? Would not they get found 
out wherever they went ? 



KEEPING POWER. 291 

Though Paul sometimes commended a servant to a 
church by letter; and the church in turn commended 
one of its number to the other churches as a preacher 
of the Word, by the laying on of hands, yet the Bible 
does not bear much record of the commendation of 
man. It is rather the other way. It lays bare the 
iniquities of the human heart; its frailty, its worth- 
lessness alone, without the help of God and of Christ; 
and almost every page glistens with reliable testi- 
mony as to the power and love of God as our refuge 
and trust. 

Oh, why will not you, my kind reader, turn your 
eyes from changeable men and transitory things to a 
changeless God? To whom did Paul with tearful 
eyes commend the elders of Miletus? To nobody and 
nothing earthly. He directed them to headquarters. 

And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the 
word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give 
you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. 
Acts 20: 32. 

There is where the keeping power must come from ; 
there should your hope be "as an anchor to the soul 
both sure and steadfast." 

Kept ? Yes ! *' Kept by the power of God through 
faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last 
time." 1 Pet. 1:5. " Have salt [grace or keeping 
power] in yourselves, and have peace one with 
another." Mark 9 : 50. 

Can we stand in this evil time? Yes! In what? 
Not the wisdom of men. 

Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with 
God through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom also we have 
access into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope 
of the glory of God. Rom. 5 : 1-2. 



292 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

WORKING POWER KEEPS. 

We have heard much said in testimony concerning 
the keeping power of God, and have observed it not 
a little in actual operation, and we venture to say- 
that many misapprehend its action. They seem to 
fancy that God is going to preserve them sinless in 
com23arative idleness in his work ; that they can sit 
like the pyramids of Egypt and unctiously defy the 
disintegrating influences of time, and never fall. 

Now such a course of thinking is a mistaken one. 
A farmer never expects to keep his scythe from rust- 
ing by hanging it on the limb of an apple-tree ; but it 
will shine by constant use. The best kept Christians 
that I ever saw are those most used of God. Ah! 
how they do shine, like a silver dollar in constant 
circulation. It does not take much steam to keep a 
railway train in motion ; but it is the stopping and 
starting that costs and tears and wears out the 
machinery. If I were to run off what work of God 
I have got on the spool and not be anxious for more, 
the first thing I should know I would be spinning 
the Devil's yarns. 

The Devil is a busy fellow ; does not stop to loaf 
around a busy man long ; he rather be at home in 
Tophet, than hang around long under the sound of 
God's hammer and anvil. Back in Job's day he was 
" going to and fro in the earth and walking up and 
down in it." In Peter's day he was " like a roaring 
lion walking about, seeking whom he might devour." 
And now that he " has come down in great wrath 
knowing that he hath but a short time " he is not 
going to spend much time in one spot nor fool long 
with a man who, like Nehemiah, is " doing a great 
work and cannot come down." 



KEEPING POWER. 293 

The Devil comes along to a man and if he finds he 
has got all the Lord's work he can do and more too, 
and loves it better than anything else, he won't 
trouble him any more than you would be likely to 
call at a barber's shop with all the chairs full and a 
couple dozen or so waiting their turn. He knows 
well enough that some men will pay no attention to 
him until the Lord's work is all done, so it is better 
to push on to a fellow who is out of a job. 

Why, some good folks seem to think that it is God's 
business to fix up people prettily and set them on the 
mantel to look at ; but we never could afford much 
time to gaze on these wax figures. Real life affords 
us a greater charm. There have been lots of folks to 
see the painted " Battle of Gettysburg ; " and have 
just sat and admired it at short range ; but if the real 
thing was goiog on you could not get them within 
forty miles of it. The fellows that fought it can tell 
you something that is not " hand-painted " about it. 

There are a great many pretty things called Gospel 
which do not trouble the Devil much ; but those tell- 
ing blows which make the joints in the framework of 
His kingdom creak is what he just cannot endure. 
God help us to put in such blows and keep busy in 
the work of God, and we shall not have so much 
" experience " with the Devil, which idle folks have to 
relate and can " tell what God hath done for our soul " 
while we have been trying to do what we could for 
Him. 



294 CRUMBS OF THE BKEAD OF LIFE. 

THE TRUE VINE. 

"I AM the true Vino" says Christ. (John 15: 1.) 
He does not say He is the only vine, for the religious 
field is full of vines running in all directions; but He 
is the true vine and His Father is the Husbandman. 
Is His claim of being the true vine a valid one ? Yes. 
How? By the fruit He bore, the life He led. He 
had the indorsement of the Husbandman. "Ye are 
the branches." 

There is such a tangle of religious vines and shrub- 
bery in the world, that many are perplexed to know 
which is the true Vine — and no wonder at it, for the 
Devil has imitated the foliage pretty well, and run his 
vines on the church arbor, and the church vines on his 
arbor, and so addled up the Doctors of Divinity that 
they do not know much about it, and dare not say 
what they do know. But the rich clusters of ripe, 
juicy, divine fruit which yv)U may know by trying it, 
he has not yet succeeded in counterfeiting. 

Then the proper way to tell the nature of a vine is 
by the fruit it bears. " Men do not gather grapes of 
thorns nor figs of thistles." A cluster of grapes in a 
thorn bush is evidence that there is a grape vine there 
somewhere which you can trace out — unless they 
have been tied on and in that case they will wilt. 
But the Husbandman does not let His vines run all 
over creation and into everything, and mix up and 
spoil the fruit. Nor does He plant them off in a con- 
vent in the shade where they will be puny and pind- 
ling and bear no fruit good for anything, and where 
nobody would be benefited by it if it did. He wants 
number one fruit in the midst of a crooked and per- 
verse generation. 



KEEPING POWER. 295 

But it makes a mighty difference which end of the 
vine is in the midst of wickedness — whether it is the 
root end or the fruitage end. If you abide in the 
Vine you can run out into the world and bear fruit 
and save the lost; bat it won't work to reverse this 
order of things. 

Some are forever consulting their own happiness 
in the matter. If they should happen to mature a 
bunch of fruit, they would run from one end of the 
earth to the other and halloo and scream about it; just 
as though it was an uncommon thing. Better get so 
rooted into the Vine and so abide that we can look 
upon the fruit as a matter of course, which God has 
caused us to bear to benefit somebody else instead of 
to merely make us happy. Bless your heart, some of 
the best fruit this world has ever seen has been 
obtained when the old vine has been scrubbed and 
clubbed. Thank God we are privileged to bear the 
true fruit, not for any worth or worthiness in us, but 
on account of what we partake from the Main Stock. 



PREVENTIVE TREATMENT. 

Any system of medicine is faulty which does not 
prescribe a preventive treatment as well as an eradi- 
cative treatment. Contagious diseases and epidemics 
would sweep down whole communities — doctors and 
all — were this not so. So vaccination prevents 
small-pox, small doses of Belladonna taken in season 
wards off scarlet fever ; and fumigation of disinfect- 
ants and antidotes have much to do in destroying 



296 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

noxious gases which otherwise would prey upon the 
human system. 

The Bible is a kind of medicine book; it treats 
upon the diseases of sin — the leprosy of sin. It 
prescribes a treatment which insures its certain erad- 
ication when the directions are followed, even "to 
the uttermost." But what good would it amount to 
cure men of sin and send them forth breathing its 
miasma again, without any preventive treatment ? It 
w^ould be the same thing over and over again till they 
were worn out. Many are cured in this way, and 
start out without the preventive treatment, and this 
is why the church is up and down so much. God 
wants people to "stand fast" — "having done all to 
stand " — when he has taken them up from the slip- 
pery paths of sin; and so the medicine to keep sin 
out, after it has been put out, is prescribed in God's 
book. It is "the Spirit of God" — "the power of 
God " — which generates, kindles, enlivens, vitalizes 
your faith, be that ever so small. It is the " positive 
pole which connects you with the divine current of 
power. ' In union there is strength,' especially in 
union with God. Break this connection, and your 
power to stand against evil is gone." " Without me 

— severed from me — ye can do nothing," says Christ; 
for he is the connection between man and Heaven. 
"Be ye filled with the Spirit." "Quench not the 
Spirit." This is the safeguard against sin. This is 
the way Christ dwells in his disciples. Sin is strong 

— the Devil is strong — but Christ is the strongest ; 
and he can " bind the strong man " and put him out 
of you. 

This is the first thing Christ does for the temple of 
our bodies. Christ and the Devil will not room 



KEEPING POWRR. 297 

together. " Ye are the temple of the Holy Ghost ; " 
that is, when you are cleansed of sin. " Greater is 
he that is in you than he that is in the world." Do 
you suppose the Devil is going to get back into you 
as long as Christ is enthroned there ? Christ will go 
out, if you say so ; he is too sensible to stay where 
he is not wanted. Which do you want to reign in 
you ? Make application to Christ only, for the Devil 
comes without any invitation, and will stay till Christ 
puts him out. 

Oh, this world is getting so intensely miasmous of 
sin that we do not well to go into it unless we are 
saturated with the antidote for it. Keep the incense 
of prayer rolling up. Smoke it out. " Be not over- 
come of evil, but overcome evil with good." Do not 
be driven — stand. Drive it. Have an atmosphere 
about you that savors of the holy of holies if you 
want the Devil to slink away. A club will only 
enrage a ravenous beast ; but you just put that club 
into the fire, and let it become like a coal, then take 
it and chase him. " One may chase a thousand, and 
two put ten thousand to flight." Oh, we need to put 
our clubs into the fire of God's love before we under- 
take to chase the enemy with them. 

God is your defense while you work for Him. 
Some seem to think that all there is to do is to bran- 
dish " the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of 
God." So far so good ; but get the grace and gump- 
tion of good old Nehemiah's gang who had a sword 
in one hand and a trowel in the other. You cannot 
handle mortar with a sword, and you cannot handle 
the enemy with a trowel. There is something to be 
done as well as to be defended. 
13* 



298 CEUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

ICE-BOUND CHRISTIANS. 

The sun, the great source of light and heat of our 
earth, shines the same the year round. What is 
winter to us is the change of position that we have 
taken toward it on account of the motion of the 
earth, so that the rays of the sun do not come per- 
pendicularly to bear upon us ; they shoot over our 
heads obliquely and we do not receive tiieir warmth. 
In the summer, when the rays are shorter and bear 
upon people endwise, what a melting time it is! 
How we curl, cringe, and rub our ears in January ! 

Well, Jesus, " the Sun of Righteousness who has 
arisen with healing in His wings" (Mai. 4 : 2), is 
" the same yesterday, today and forever." (Heb. 13 : 
8) ; but alas ! some of His followers — His satellites 
which should revolve around Him as the common 
center more accurately — are very variable. They 
shoot off on their own hook now and then like " wan- 
dering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of 
darkness forever." Jude 13. What wonder then 
that they are frozen up part of the year. Fruitless, 
sealed up, piety in icicles, if they ever had any, and 
dreary as the north pole. Once in a while, though, 
they get turned toward Jesus somehow, and get 
melted down, tears flow, and you begin to think that 
the spring time of better things has actually begun. 
But they do not revolve in that orbit long enough to 
bear fruit ; off they are again and frozen up. They 
have not got that religion which will keep off the ice. 

What is. the remedy? ^^ Abide in me, and I in 
you." Get as near the Lord as possible, and revolve 
there the year round, if you would bear fruit. Then 
"December is as pleasant as May." Do not run off on 



FBUITS OF THE SPIRIT. 299 

a tangent, or take a niff at every little thing that is 
said or done by the brethren and sisters, and freeze 
up. Just think of the long suffering of God, and of 
Jesus, His Son, with the whole world of sin and sin- 
ners ; and lay it along side of that little petty affair 
that snapped your patience asunder ! Oh, shame ! 
You need to look at the one through smoked glass, 
and to discern the other with a microscope. You 
have not yet resisted unto blood striving against sin. 
"Draw nigh to God, and He will dl^aw nigh to 
you." Get under the direct rays of the great source 
of light and warmth, and get thawed out, you who 
are on the frigid side of the mountain ; and in the 
course of time. If you abide there, you may bear 
fruit. " Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear 
much fruit ; so shall ye be my disciples." 



THE ABIDING JOY. 

Some seem to be wedded to a Gospel of grief ; they 
seem to feel as though the Lord's commandments 
were grievous; and whenever they testify for him, 
it comes out with that perpetual whine that is charac- 
teristic of a disobedient child who goes sulkily off to 
his task. They love the world and its charms; but 
from a mere sense of duty they go peevishly through 
the routine of serving God "like dumb-driven cattle." 

It is better to " be a hero in the strife." There is 
such a thing as waiting upon the Lord from the heart 
as tboagh you loved to ; rather than not — would feel 
bad if you could not. There is a twinkle in the eye 
of an obedient child; and there is a joy in the heart 



300 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

that works its way out — though sometimes in tears, 
as sunshine through rain — of him whose meat and 
drink it is to serve the living and true God, and it is a 
complete and abiding joy ; it is not fitful, spasmodic 
— the thing of a day. 

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might 
remain in you, and that your joy might be full. John 
15: 11. 

Divine joy comes to the believing heart in abun- 
dance, and comes to stay. The worst sorrow the 
believer has is — not because he is sick of the bargain 
he made when he gave himself to the Lord, and does 
not know what else to do but plod on, having too 
much pride to back out of that which he has com- 
menced — but because the Lord he loves better than 
his own life is personally absent. 

And ye now have sorrow : but I will see you again, and 
your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from 
you. John 16: 22. 

But the signs of his coming thicken so, and his 
coming seems so near, that many of us have got this 
abiding joy, by faith, in advance. They try to take 
this joy from us occassionally by scoffing at us, as 
Peter said they would, " Saying, Where is the prom- 
ise of his coming ? " (2 Pet. 3 : 4.) " I should think 
you would get tired of looking for his coming. Why, 
you have been preaching it for forty years or more, 
and I do not see as it is any nearer than it was at 
first ; everything goes along the same.'* Thus they 
scoff and laugh (and worry every time something 
strange happens, like the dark day we had a few years 
ago, for fear it may be true); and we have a sorrow 



FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT. 301 

with ail abiding joy inside of it that brightens with 
every omen of his coming. 

Let the world rejoice ; we covet none of their 
smiles. We are content to "weep and lament," and 
shout and sing all together. It mixes well with the 
divine Spirit to do the stirring. Bat it will be mani- 
fest one of these days that smiles and frowns will 
change faces. Let my face wear sorrow now, if need 
be, with a swelling joy in my soul, rather than be so 
gay and giddy without, and have fear and trembling 
within. And the Felixes of this world have their 
days of trembling in this life, if they do try to make it 
gay. "Go tl>y way for this time; when I have a con- 
venient season, I will call for thee." But that con- 
venient season for these Felixes will be when the 
great white throne heaves in view, and when it will 
be inconvenient for God to save, the saving business 
having been concluded. 

As we look about this world in amazement at the 
achievements of man, and wonder what he will under- 
take to do next — What law o{ nature he will seem to 
overcome or set aside — we can rest our minds that 
there are some things which are beyond human con- 
trol, namely : our life which is " hid with Christ in 
God." 

Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to 
kill the soul : but rather fear him which is able to destroy 
both soul and body in hell. Matt. 10 : 28. 

And the joy which Christ gives to his people, and 
says shall remain in ihem — '* no man taketh from 
you." You may kill a child of God, chop up his body, 
reduce it to ashes, and throw the ash^s into the swift- 
running stream that carries them into the ocean ; but 



302 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

all that will not defeat the purpose of God concerning 
his future life. 

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also 
appear with him in glory. Col. 3 : 3, 4. 

Dying Stephen committed his life into safe keeping. 
This is a life insurance company worth having. " So 
that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I 
will not fear what man shall do unto, mo." " For he 
hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." 
Heb. 18 : 5. Is it any wonder that we have an 
abiding joy with such a basis to our hope as this? 
And the best of it all is he is coming soon ; that 
makes our joy " full" to overflowing. 

Many try to find a consolation in this political 
measure, and that, and the other — this triumph of 
one party, and that defeat of another — this success 
in missionary work, and that triumph of Gospel zeal — 
thereby hoping the world is growing better, and 
expecting it will be all converted to God ; but that is 
a hard way to obtain a Christian joy. Come here to 
the Gospel feast, and find better living, ye lean and 
starved souls! Missionary effort and Gospel zeal are 
not kindled by the joy and hope of seeing the Lord, 
from the fact that his coming so soon is destruction to 
those who are unprepared. If Christ is not to come 
till the world is converted, we may take our own 
time; but if he is coming in his own good time, 
whether it is converted or not, then we may well 
redeem the time, and put to the test every sinew to 
save the lost. 

Joy to the world, the Lord (wilV) come, 
Let earth receive her king. 



FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT — PEACE. 303 

"MY PEACE I GIVE UNTO YOU." 

There are two kinds of peace — the Lord's peace 
and the world's peace. "Peace I leave with you; 
my peace I give unto you ; not as the world giveth, 
give I unto you." John 14 : 27. Peace is the result 
of the surrender ^. one party to another. And just 
in proportion to the difference between the spirit of 
Christ and that of the world is the character of the 
peace we obtain. As " the friendship of the world 
is enmity with God" (James 4 : 4), it necessarily fol- 
lows that we cannot be active soldiers and be at 
peace with both parties. If we obey God fully, He 
will by the Holy Spirit fill us with Divine peace, no 
matter how belligerent the world may be on account 
of that obedience. No person can be " true blue " 
and "serve two masters" — fight the enemy then slip 
over to the enemy and fight back, as self-interests 
happen to demand. 

Peace with everybody and everything is much to 
be desired, but we must wait and " fight the good 
fight of faith," until the holy war is over, and victory 
is won. Those who are anxious for peace without 
regard to terms, seldom go to war ; for rather than 
have any trouble they yield to the wishes of the 
enemy. 

But there are some who are somewhat particular 
about the conditions of peace. Among these were 
Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Daniel, John the 
Baptist and others. What an amount of trouble 
they might have avoided if they had not been so 
"set" in their way — and had had more of this 
modern charity for others' opinions and feelings, 
which cries "good Lord and good Devil," as the 



304 CKUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

case may be, to prevent trouble. True, the Apostle 
enjoins us to " do the things which make for peace " 
— the things which have a peaceable tendency ; but 
it is always to be understood that the things which 
we are to do are to be in harmony with the Lord's 
doctrines and commands. Some folks rather surren- 
der the fort of Divine truth to the invading hosts of 
the Devil than to have their precious worldly com- 
forts and worldly peace rippled. Now we readily 
admit that there are those who are always spoiling 
for a religious quarrel of some kind ; and we warn 
you against that; but where there is one in that con- 
dition, there are ten who have got their mouths to 
the Devil's soothing syrup, rocking in the cradle of 
worldly peace. 

Christ's peace is not made — " I gwe unto you." 
His peace comes from obeying His Word, regardless 
of the results. Christ's peace may be enjoyed inter- 
nally, though our surroundings with sin and Satan 
are of the most threatening and warlike character; 
e. g. Paul and Silas down to Philippi. Everything ' 
could have been as quiet as a graveyard if they had 
only stopped preaching what they were told to by 
Jesus. But they knew whereof they affirmed, and 
how much better the peace of God was than that of 
the world. The peace of God is as far superior to 
the world's peace as God is holier, purer and more 
just than they. Divine peace is enjoyable only when 
Divine truth and justice have supreme sway. Jesus 
Christ is the prophetic Prince of Peace. 

He came the first time, " not to bring peace on the 
earth " but to lay the foundations for it, which would 
result in the use of the " sword" by those who would 
not accede to the terms. He is coming the second 



HUMILITY. 305 

time to bring peace absolutely, by the destruction 
of His enemies. That will be a peace broad and 
enduring and worth having. 11 is soldiers have a 
foretaste of it here as they fight His battles. Let us 
"follow peace with all men," avoiding conflicts of a 
carnal type, but rather than accede to a peace of 
worldly dictation respecting what Ave preach and be- 
lieve let us " hold the fort " till Jesus comes. 



HUMILITY. 

Humility is not that state of mind which is the 
result of doing penance, but is the condition of being 
emptied of conceit and being filled with grace. The 
natural mind is generally filled with conceit, and as 
small as it is in its dwarfed condition, there is always 
a plenty of room for a good deal of it; but that soul 
which has been drawn to God, and by faith adopted 
into the Divine family, has its nature changed, and 
is blessedly surcharged with grace, expanding the 
heart to contain more and more. Yet, sad to relate, 
these conditions are apt to get mixed among believers 
— a little grace and a large lot of conceit, and a fair 
amount of grace and a little conceit. They make a 
bad mixture — in fact, they will not really mix ; they 
are not homogeneous ; but they get together some 
how into a heterogenous mass, and produce bad 
results. 

The very apostles of the Lord did not get, at the 
first, all exempt of conceit and filled with grace. 
They got the former worked out, and the latter 
wrought in by experience, in pretty much the same 



306 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

way as we do — bumping against facts until we learn 
to stoop a little. Peter was a fair sample of the 
majority of humanity — spunky with conceit, but 
weak in grace and Divine knowledge. Well, he 
learned better, and so shall we if we follow on to 
know. Ever and anon, and especially the night 
before Christ's betrayal, there was a strife among the 
apostles "who should be greatest." What a low 
impulse that was, you say. Yes ; but at large camp- 
meetings and conventions now, where ministers are 
plenty and grace is scarce, the same impulses will be 
in many hearts because this one is put forward, and 
that one is assigned an important part, and only 
needs a present Christ to detect it and point it out, 
and perhaps some will be low enough to blurt it out. 

When a man gets emptied of his conceit, and 
buried up with Divine grace and j)ower, he is not 
troubled this way. If there is a man who can do a 
piece of work for God better than he can, he is more 
ready to set him at it than he is to go and make a 
fool of himself. And if some one inferior in human 
and Divine attainments gets put ahead of him, he 
only feels bad for Christ's sake, not his own. Why 
should he worry ? The battle is not his ; and more 
than that, he has committed his soul unto a faithful 
Creator ; and though he seems to be going backward, 
yet, like Joseph of old, he is going onward to a 
throne. Let the time spent in envy and jealousy be 
occupied in reducing the volume of human conceit, 
and filling up with Divine grace and power, and what 
impetus the cause of God would receive ! Its effect 
would be felt from pole to pole, even to joy among 
the angels round about the throne. 

The Apostle Paul has warned us of this matter, and 



FAITH, CHARITY AND HUMILITY. 307 

admonished all along through his writings. And he, 
as well as Peter (and James and John, who got 
summarily rebuked on account of their incendiary 
proposition concerning the Samaritan village), had 
had experience, and knew how to do it. On the way 
to Damascus, with papers from the high priest haling 
men and women to prison — persecuting unto death 
— doing "many things contrary to Jesus of Naza- 
reth," I suppose Paul, or rather Saul the destroyer, 
thought he was the main pillar of the cause of God 
in the world until he saw that light on the way. And 
ever after that he was a different man. Instead of a 
conceited saint, he found out that he was the chief of 
sinners for doing the very thing that before that he 
thought was the very thing he " ought to do." 

When the Lord gets hold of us he makes a radical 
change in our purposes. There are lots of men, like 
Paul, who have good material in them, but it is bent 
the wrong way, and needs the Divine fire and ham- 
mer to bend it in the opposite direction. 

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man 
that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than 
he ought to think ; but to think soberly, according as God 
hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Rom. 12 : 3. 
Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. 
Be not wise in your own conceits. Rom. 12 : 16. 



COUNTERFEIT. 

Bank officials are close judges of what purports to 
be money, and if a worthless note is presented, no 
matter how pretty it looks, the above title — counter- 
feit — is stamped across4t in huge letters. Would it 



308 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

not be as well for Christians, especially the young, to 
practice some of this vigilance when the Devil — the 
great arch counterfeiter — tries to palm off some of 
his vile imitations of the Christian graces upon them ? 
The Christian graces are God's jewels of great price, 
and are the especial aim of the counterfeiter. There- 
fore many warnings from Jesus and his chosen twelve 
come to us through the Scriptures in relation to 
false Christs, false prophets, and deception of every 
kind. Many false Christs have been born and nursed 
in the pulpit where he of Bethlehem's manger should 
have been preached *' as the Scriptures hath said." 

There is now in circulation (look out for it) coun- 
terfeit faith, charity, humility, reverence, and so on. 
This particular faith once in possession requires us to 
expect that which was never promised by God, and to 
be eternally dumb as to exactly what he did promise. 
It goes around manacled to science. This symptom 
will betray it. Genuine faith is that which feels at 
home, and in no hurry to leave, among the plain, 
naked promises of God, supported by his past record 
in their fulfillment, and stimulated by present indica- 
tions of their speedy consummation ; but destitute of 
any of the entangling alliances of science or deduc- 
tions of human origin. 

This false charity of the Devil is a wishy-washy 
article, yet plausible enough to deceive. Over its 
impotent head shoot the thrifty branches of iniquity 
which, while a tender plant, was sheltered at its side. 
Its watchword — hush — indicates a desire to cry 
*^good Lord and good Devil," being in uncertainty as 
to whose company perchance it may sometimes fall 
into. 

The servant of the Lord encumbered with it is as 



FAITH, CHARITY AMD HUMILITY. 309 

helpless and futile as Samson shorn of his locks. It 
is simply the Devil's padlock to the mouth when 
"iniquity in high places" should be rebuked. Genu- 
ine charity is the trusty companion of truth, and for 
her sake vindicates her. It must have been the true 
metal which John the Baptist rung in Herod's ears in 
regard to his unholy wedlock ; for which he got into 
prison and closed his mighty mission with the loss of 
his head. True charity is not the servant of reputa- 
tion ; but, placing life and reputation on God's alter, 
goes forth, with meekness, in the interest of the 
triumph of truth. 

This false humility is of the same coinage and is 
intended as an inch by inch death to the Christian by 
sapping the vitality. It is a disease affecting the 
spiritual spine by inducing curvatures or removing 
the pith. It tends to an uncertain gait and a gloomy, 
wandering eye. This terrible disease makes sad 
havoc with a once buoyant child of God, unless speed- 
ily cured. It will, if allowed to go on, amount to a 
sort of hypochondria; an inability to fix the mind on 
any given subject with any certainty, especially 
toward attaining a knowledge of one's own accep- 
tance with God. Certainties of the Bible vanish, like 
shadows, into myths in this delirious state. The sin- 
ner who is lost and knows it, seems in a better plight 
than one in this condition, who has taken this leap in 
the dark, and is senseless as to the next movement to 
be made to find light and peace. True humility exists 
in the greatest degree where the spiritual senses are 
the most acute. It was never intended as a draw- 
back to quickness of perception, certainty of conclu- 
sion or fixedness of position. 

Finally, look out for false worship or reverence. It 



310 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OP LIFE. 

is a Satanic deception and means, in a nutshell, what 
lie said to Jesus, "Fall down and worship me"; 
though there are different means and ways of coming 
at it. The Devil goes to the social meeting and by 
his high-toned reverence for Divine worship will, if he 
can, make it anything but social. If there is any sen- 
timent that ought to gush from the heart, he will if 
possible, choke it down and substitute therefor a 
lyceum declamation as dead as possible. He does not 
like much noise in the house of God unless it be 
fiddles, horns or drums. This springing up from the 
soul of hearty shouts is just ridiculous to him. In 
short, a forced worship instead of salvation's running 
stream, is his object. True worship is accepting and 
obeying the Lord and resisting the Devil. " May 
grace be multiplied " to us that we may not only 
worship God " in spirit and in truth," but " resist the 
Devil " in all his sorties into our ranks. 



ONE-GRACED CHRISTIANS. 

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; hut 
the greatest of these is charity. 1 Cor. 13: 13. 

One great trouble in the church is one-graced 
Christians. With one man the beginning, the middle, 
and the end of Christianity is faith — and often a 
very particular kind of faith which he or somebody 
else has discovered : and how they will belabor other 
folks until they espouse it ! You are a lost man until 
you embrace "this position," other matters (^.e., your 
manner of life), being of secondary importance. 



FBUITS OF THE SPIRIT. 311 

With another man it is all a matter of hope. 
There is nothing for a Christian to possess in a spir- 
itual sense he7*e ; in fact, you cannot be much of a 
Christian in this world anyhow ; but he hopes to be 
" in the sweet by and by." That fellow's soul is as 
empty as an inverted bowl ; but his hope is loaded to 
the brim with all the blessed things of the future 
imaginable. There are many anticipatory Christians 
— there will be something worth naming done, they 
think, in the " age to come." 

With still another it is all charity. He has set 
himself up as Gospel cook, and proposes to make you 
live on this entirely. Well, sugar is good; and I 
have heard my wife say that she believed our children 
would eat a toad if he was only done up in sugar. 
On this principle some seem to think that the Devil 
will be swallowed easily, if you do him up well in 
charity, but there are some who have sense enough to 
consult their stomach and health before they do their 
palate. 

Misplaced charity is no charity at all. Too much 
of a good thing is sickening. The Apostle said '' the 
greatest of these is charity;" but charity is not every- 
thing. The Psalmist could say, '' I hate every false 
way." We want some of that sanctified hate — hate 
what we once loved — hate the Devil and all his 
works ; but love sinners and pull them as brands from 
the burning. 

Brother, if you would be perfect, let all the Chris- 
tian graces be proportioned in you according to the 
Gospel. Do not grow to tops and tassels. I hate to 
see one man all nose and another all ears. Grow up 
into Christ in all things — grow uniformly in them. 
Take food for the bones as well as for producing fat. 



312 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

and avoid deformity. Bat do not starve today and 
feast tomorrow hoping to add a streak of lean and a 
streak of fat to your soul as the Irishman did his pig. 
Take the " daily bread," — the staff of life — take 
Christ; for in him dwelleth all the fullness of the 
Godhead bodily. 

The Christian graces grouped together are what 
make a character of lasting brilliancy. The diamond 
has not only a brilliancy in itself, but it owes its 
sparkle to the grouping of various angles upon its 
surface. If that diamond there in that sinner's bosom 
— saints do not advertise their poverty by wearing 
those things — had but one flat surface, it would 
shine but little brighter than a piece of glass which 
you might pick up in the street. 

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith 
virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temper- 
ance ; and to temperance, patience ; and to patience, godli- 
ness ; and to godliness, brotherly kindness ; and to brotherly 
kindness, charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, 
they make you that you be neither barren nor unfruitful in 
the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1 : 5-8. 

That is a regular cluster of diamonds — the crown 
jewels of a prince ; not to be laid away for safe keep- 
ing for fear of their being stolen, but to be worn 
every day. Oh, for a church ornamented and glori- 
ous with that sort of jewelry ! They never get tired, 
np above, of handing down the ornaments of a meek 
and quiet spirit to such as have got sick of bedizening 
themselves with earthern trash. An ornamented pig- 
pen is a pig-pen still. Kill the vain, proud, foolish 
" old man " inside of peoj)le, and clean up the place in 
which he has dwelt, and the outside will take care of 
itself. 



GROWTH. 313 

MEANS OF GRACE. 

Divine grace, in the sense of that favor of God 
which sheds abroad in the heart assurance of forgive- 
ness, and of peace with God and heirship to His 
present approval and His coming kingdom and glory, 
comes to us only as we put ourselves in the way of it, 
or use the means of its bestowal, and abide in them. 

Many people would just like to be blessed with the 
wonderful, gracious showers of peace, if an inward 
wish, with no act on their ^^art, would only bring it 
down all at once, and float them above further 
trouble and want. But the Lord does not work that 
way. He does not work for our benefit, at least 
after we take His profession on us, and know duty, 
without some co-operation on our part. This may 
be illustrated in the natural world. He does not 
make corn grow in bins, nor potatoes in the cellar ; 
they must be planted where His heaven-sent sun- 
shine and rain will germinate, cause them to grow, 
and ripen them ; and they must continue there. 

What a person needs to get rooted into, as quickly 
as possible after he is taken from the mire of sin, or 
the natural soil in which he has grown, is the Word 
of God ; and it is of no use to have a little, dainty, 
painted sectarian urn full of it either. Sit them 
down in the midst of all out of doors^ where the liv- 
ing waters flow, and let them grow. And do not 
keep pulling them up every now and then to see 
whether they are getting rooted into any soil which 
has not been through our sectarian sieve, '' By their 
fruits ye shall know them " ; not by their roots. Do 
they not bear Gospel fruits — a Christian character ? 
Well, yes. Then let them alone ; let them grow ; 
14 



314 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

and put the rest of the orchard into the same soil. 
Digging and dressing is in order where there is a 
lack of fruit. 

Pears will not grow in a mill pond, nor pond lilies 
on a sand knoll ; neither will a Christian grow in 
grace while planted in worldliness — carnality — and 
watered with dime novels and flesh feeding litera- 
ture, or any other form of worldliness, whether it is 
sanctified by having a church built over it, or a min- 
ister recommending it, or not. But, 

Blessed is that man that walketh not in the counsel of 
the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth 
in the seat of the scornful 

[even if some church members set the example of 
doing it]. But his delight is in [the Waverly novels 
and New York Fireside Companion ? No, indeed ; 
but in] the law [or Word] of the Lord ; and in His 
law doth he meditate [once a week? No, verily, 
but] day and flight. And he shall be like a tree 
planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth 
his fruit in his season. Psa. 1. He is not like a tree 
planted in a pile of sawdust and you do not have to 
wait until the '* age to come " for his fruit either. 

There is many a boy who would like with one 
bound to spring into manhood ; not that he wants to 
arrive at the loork of manhood, — but manhood's 
bodily appearance; and there are those who would 
like to be men and women in Christ at once, skipping 
the milk period and the teeth-cutting age, but the 
Lord has ordered it otherwise. Growth in grace is 
better. Time and experience are .needed to develop 
the physical body ; and the attainments of grace will 
come to us as fast as we know how to use them. 



GEOWTH. 315 

Flesh compacted on the bones by work and conflict, 
is better than sudden bloat. Work for God if you 
want Divine grace, and strength for 7nore work. 

And do not grapple with Herculean burdens until 
you have Herculean strength ; but commence with 
something^ and that right early, if you would ever 
have Herculean strength. Go for the sand-heap with 
a shovel suited to your strength. Open your pocket, 
hands, and mouth in the service of God. Open them 
a little, and you will have grace to open them wider 
next time, to do more. Do not sit with folded hands 
and sing, — 

Open the windows of Heaven, O, Lord, 
And pour out a blessing on me ; 

for it will not come that way. Even the Lord Him- 
self does not keep a reservoir of water in Heaven 
with which to water the earth by setting an angel to 
open the valves when a drought occurs. The Hin- 
doo mythology teaches that a huge elephant draws 
up the water in his trunk and squirts it over the land 
when it rains. But facts agree with God's words, 
which says that in the beginning " a mist went up 
from the earth and watered the whole face of the 
ground." God's sunshine continually draws up the 
mist and His cold condenses it in dew and showers 
upon the earth, and so the thing is regulated by the 
continual activity of God's mind. 

In much the same way souls get watered with 
Divine grace — a mist goes up ! " He that watereth 
others, himself also shall be watered." It regulates 
itself. If you want the Lord to " pour out rich bless- 
ings of peace and love," send up the mist of prayer, 
praise, and cheerful work; which will collect up 



316 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

there, and come down to your thirsty soul after 
awhile ! That was the way Dorcas' alms-giving 
worked ; it went up as a memorial before God and 
the resurrection blessing came down " Give, and it 
shall be given you, good measure, pressed down and 
running over." 

If we would receive God's wonder-working grace, 
let us see the Heaven -given means that will secure it 
to us, and continue in His Word and love until the 
perfect day. 



PATIENCE. 

Patience is a Christian grace that fits where noth- 
ing else will. When every other grace has seemed to 
exhaust itself, then this unflinching, never-give-up 
trait comes to the front, assumes the reins of govern- 
ment, and saves the soul's citadel from the conquest 
of the enemy. " In patience possess ye your souls," 
said the Savior to the disciples just prior to Jerusa- 
lem's overthrow. We need it in our times, also, in 
double quantity, living as we do amid the evils, 
abuses, and irritating scenes of temptation which just 
precede the worWs overthrow. 

Alas ! how many Christians lose possession of their 
souls for the lack of patience. In the household the 
children are fretful, noisy, and disobedient; wife is 
sick enough to be in bed, but cannot afford the time, 
so drags about with the picture of distraction upon 
her face, which begets other distraction in some other 
body's face ; a button is lacking where it cannot be 
spared ; there is a hole in the stocking and — a much 



FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT — PATIENCE. 317 

bigger hole and lack in your pious profession that 
ought to be filled out round and plump with patience. 
Patience is needed in the shop, the store, the pulpit, 
the pew — everywhere. In fact, the Devil seems to 
be in everybody and everything when one is out of 
patience, as the drunkard who laid in the gutter 
declared that everyone who passed was drunk. 

Get in a grand supply of patience, and with what 
different feelings we look at almost everything and 
everybody! There is nobody, then, half so sour, 
morose, and ugly as he seemed before, and the sled- 
load of life and labor seems to — yes does — go along 
smoothly, because the " grit " is covered up with the 
grace of patience. 

" In patience possess ye your souls." That is the 
only way we can have an ownership of them. '* Te 
are not your own " — as far as relationship to God 
and his law is concerned, — you are bought with the 
price of Christ's blood — you are His. But you are 
to possess things in and through Him. When the 
Devil seems to be coming dowai in great wrath and 
every thing is going to pieces, you can keep at the 
top of the heap with patience. When a man or 
woman loses patience through the day, and meeting 
night comes around, either will feel more like some- 
body else than himself. Possess your soul in 
patience; not hire your soul with patience, as you 
rent a house by the month, and then move from place 
to place. A man who hires a place does not make 
many permanent improvements, but he who possesses 
his dwelling-place sets out fruit-trees, and gives 
other evidences that he owns the premises and is 
going to stop there. " Abide in me and I in you," 
says Jesus. Do not be shifting ab6ut, but stop where 
you are, possess your soul and grow in grace. 



318 CRUMBS OF THE BKEAD OF LIFE. 

How shall I get more patience ? You cannot buy 
it by the yard, pound, or gallon ; it is wrought out of 
the experience, as gold is worked out of quartz by 
crushing, and cleaning, and sifting. "Tribulation 
worketh patience," Rom. 5:8. " Knowing this that 
the trying of your faith worketh patience." James 
1:3. What is the use of crushing quartz unless you 
gather the gold? You never would get rich that 
way. What is the use of tramping over grain with a 
tribulum^ according to the ancient custom, unless you 
get the wheat? The child of God counts it all joy 
when he falls into these trials because there is going 
to be some wheat when the chaff is cleaned away. 

But let patience have her perfect v^ork that ye many 
be perfect and entire wanting nothing." Give her 
full swing according to her strength. A giant wants 
a giant's room to lift in. Patience is a giant, but 
many want to cramp her down into a midget's 
space to work in. She cannot do her work perfectly 
in any such condition. I have seen people with loud 
professions of holiness and sanctification who were 
manifestly deficient in patience. Why so ? They 
had given sanctification all the room to work in 
(vocally) and cramjDcd up patience where she could 
hardly breathe, experimentally. 

A man is all liver if you will believe some man who 
has a liver-cure to sell; and another is all lungs to the 
man who has a cure for consumption. But when you 
come back to headquarters and study physiology, you 
will find it will take a good many things and all in 
their proper proportion to make a perfect man. And 
"till we all come in the unity of the faith and 
of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect 
man, unto the measure of the stature of Christ," we 



FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT — PATIENCE. 319 

shall find that it takes all the Christian graces in full 
play and in .proper proportion to reach that estate. 

May our God help us to have them, use them, and 
enjoy them, that we may grow up men and women in 
Christ, our living head. 



PATIENT IN TRIBULATION. 

The true Christian not only rejoices in hope, but he 
is *' patient in tribulation." Tribulation is trouble, be 
it of whatever kind it may. This is a world of 
trouble ; trouble began it ; and it will end in 

A time of trouble, such as never was since there was a 
nation even to that same time : and at that time thy people 
shall be delivered, every one that shall be fonnd written in 
the book. Dan. 12 : 1. 

Much of the work of God has been carried on '* in 
troublous times " ; because the workmen were patient. 
He who waits for the convenient season of perfect 
peace in which to have an easy time of serving God, 
must wait till tho judgment scenes are over; and that 
will be too late for him. That disciple whose import- 
ant errand calls him to cross Galilee may as well start 
in a storm as to have one rise midway; taking good 
care that Jesns is a passenger in the same boat. 

" Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the 
Lord delivereth him out of them all," said one 
anciently whose experience was worth something. 
If the "righteous man " is not always delivered here, 
he will be hereafter. And here is where the patience 
comes in — to bide God's time. Many of the afflic- 
tions of the righteous are simply God's tests or trials 



320 CKUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

to prove what the righteous are capable of enduring, 
for an exhibition of the courage which he is able to 
inspire in his saints, and for the encouragement of 
others when they come into the same trials. And 
this is what James means when he says, " count it all 
joy when ye fall into divers temptations (or trials of 
this sort), knowing this, that the trying of your faith 
worketh (or strengtheneth) patience." Athletes count 
it all joy to have a chance to show their strength or 
develop it. Suppose he who was a candidate for ath- 
letic honors should aim to avoid the necessary train- 
ing, and whine and whimper when asked to lift some- 
thing heavy, what would he amount to when the con- 
test came on? Every athlete has his trainer, and so 
must the Christian, and he must yield to his require- 
ments. God knows when we have had training 
enough to prepare us for the conflicts we must pass 
through, better than we do. 

Now, no chastening [testing or trying not necessarily in 
the sense of whipping for wrongs done) for the present 
seemeth to be joyous (of course not) but grievous; never- 
theless, it afterward yieldeth the peaceable fruit of right- 
eousness with them who are exercised thereby. Heb. 12: 11. 

Unto whom? "Unto them who are exercised 
thereby" — those who "let patience have her perfect 
work" — those who are in no such haste to justify 
themselves as to flare up — those who will wait, and 
see where the trouble is, in order to be benefited. 
Some one has said that "he did not count it all joy 
when befell into temptation so much as he did when 
he got out." That is looking at it through the carnal 
eye. The spiritually minded see righteousness and 
peace where others are looking for meat and drink 
and a good time. 



FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT — PATIENCE. 321 

Patience is an important factor in the Christian 
contest. It is to the Christian what adhesiveness is 
to the iron in the bridge over which the ponderous 
engine and the heavily laden train is passing. Once 
in a while a bridge of this kind goes down because 
there was a lack of adhesiveness in the iron ; and 
down goes the train with it causing a terrible disaster. 
Often a Christian goes down for a lack of patience ; 
and great is the fall. 

To see the benefit of Christian patience, which 
comes from " the grace wherein we stand " see two 
persons of about the same temperament afflicted with 
similar diseases. While one is " like the foaming sea 
casting np mire and dirt," out of the other "flows 
rivers of living water." It is a great consolation and 
blessing to know^ not simply to '* feel," that " whether 
living or dying we are the Lord's." It is a trusting 
child that will peacefully allow its father to hold it 
over an abyss or rolling stream ; and he is a happy 
man, or she a happy woman, who can realize even 
down to the brink of the grave that " underneath are 
the everlasting arms ; " that all things work together 
for good to them who love God " that God will be 
glorified; and that "whether we wake or sleep we 
shall live together with him." 



WAIT. 



This is a world of rushing and pushing after what- 
ever happens, to be the goal of a person's ambition. 
To some it is money ; to others knowledge of differ- 
ent kinds is the prize in life's giddy race. 



14* 



322 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

Now an enterprising and judicious pursuit after 
money or beneficial knowledge is commendable, but 
there is danger from over-heat in either case — a 
danger of being unwise even in the pursuit of knowl- 
edge. It is one thing to learn to labor, and another 
and quite hard a thing to learn to wait. Both are 
necessary in the chase for either wealth or knowl- 
edge. Paul says " When I became a man I put away 
childish things." But many old heads in this age 
have not arrived to manhood in the matter of putting 
away childish impatience and uneasiness. Children 
never want to wait, — they cannot wait. If father 
is making a thing for them, which to their little 
minds is in its early stages shrouded in mystery — 
and should be till completed — it is very hard to 
wait till it is done. How much better a child enjoys 
a thing which is to some extent enveloped in mystery 
until the finishing stroke solves all. Were they in 
complete understanding of the result, how tediously 
would the steps to the end be witnessed by them, 
and when done likely as not they would care little 
for it, nor that little long. Developed or revealed 
step by step until the grand climax is reached is 
what will make most anything interesting to the 
children ; but to keep their attention, there must be a 
gradual growth in interest, though the end be not 
revealed. In this way they will learn patience to 
wait. 

We are the children of God, and especially so in 
the pursuit of a knowledge of what God is doing for 
us, and will do for us in the future ; if we are good 
and obedient children we shall exhibit patience and 
trust, and wait for the revealment of some things 
which we think is so imperative that we should know 



FKUITS OF THE SPIEIT — PATIENCE. 323 

now, but which the Father knows is best for us to be 
kept in some mystery concerning until complete. 

The eT^idence of adoption into His family is plainly 
enough given, and may be ours to enjoy by faith ; 
but as to what He is preparing for them that love 
Him, it has never entered the heart of natural man, 
nor has it been altogether revealed to us by His 
Spirit. Some of it has been revealed, — enough in 
the Scriptures to keep the interest of the patient 
waiter till the end. 

It is this headlong rush of the world and childish 
impetuosity and impatience in the pursuit of Divine 
knowledge, without patient study, which has ship- 
wrecked the faith of so many, and to a great extent 
caused so much infidelity. God knows that it is best 
for us that much of our past and more of our future 
should be a mystery. To keep up attachment for 
anything it must not be too plainly and commonly 
revealed. If some have made haste and fallen from 
the faith, and many more been made infidels, I am of 
the opinion that more will be kept together in inter- 
est with the Almighty by the gradual development of 
His plan until the mystery is finished, than there 
would be if the whole thing had been plain as day 
from beginning to end. 

It is a truth and principle that we recognize every- 
w^here else, why not with God as well? Can not we 
wait for the bud to unfold ere we judge of its beauty 
or fragrance? Or must we with childish fingers 
make haste to help it along, and thus spoil it ? or lose 
interest in it and go our ways? 

A thousand mysteries are about us every day, and 
we just wait for time to develop them into knowl- 
edge ; and somehow, among some of them, we man- 



324 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

age to derive much pleasure during their growth. Is 
it not a great deal to knoio that our relationship is of 
a true and near character to God ? Well, then, let 
us who " believe, not make undue haste." Being in 
that position we can well afford to wait for further 
developments and trust Him. Jeremiah says (Lam. 
3 : 26), " It is good that a man should both hope and 
quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord." And we 
are assured by John (Rev. 10: 7) that there will be 
a time when "the mystery of God shall be finished 
as He hath declared to His servants the prophets." 
It is at the winding up of this world's history. Let 
us quietly wait for it, rather than injure oui selves and 
others with rash haste. 

Blind unbelief is sure to err, 

And scan its work in vain; 
God is His own interpreter, 

And He will make it plain. 



FAITH. 



If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say 
unto this mountain. Remove hence to yonder place ; and it 
shall remove: and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 
Matt. 17: 20. 

It is not always quantity that counts, but quality, 
A little dynamite has more explosive force in it than 
much cheap powder has. To the novice the powder 
with its black glistening crystals presents a more 
potent appearance than that dirty looking stuff called 
dynamite ; but a little rough handling of the two 
commodities would soon convince you of your mis- 
take — if there was enough left of you to convince. 



FAITH. 325 

A pound of feathers weighs as much as a pound of 
lead, but when you come to talk about hulk as related 
to weight it is another matter. 

Some people have a bulky faith and they read over 
these promises of God and wonder they do not 
accomplish more. The trouble is not in the quantity 
of their faith but in the quality. Most everybody 
has faith enough such as it is ; but " Where is your 
faith?" That is the question. You might rub a 
match all over a gun carriage and the gun itself, but 
the thing would not go off until you touched that 
little hole where the powder comes up. That is the 
trouble with many blind guides of these days ; they 
spend a great deal of time and zeal in rubbing 
matches over the gun and carriage, but the work of 
God does not move, and an experienced hand knows 
the reason, if he is barred out from working. 

What is your faith and where is it placed ? That 
is the question, which, if rightly answered, would 
solve many other kindred problems. I have seen lots 
of folks who had heaps of faith in themselves as to 
their smartness, ability, — what they can do as com- 
pared to others. Now that is not the stuff that 
moves mountains, though you may have a wad of it 
as big as the mountain itself. Suppose you should 
say to a mountain, " Remove to yonder place ! " who 
is going to do the job? That is the question. If you 
think your smartness or even your faith standing 
alone is going to do it, you will be greatly mistaken. 
A mountain would just stand and be talked to by you 
till doomsday, and laugh at you, if it could ; but when 
there is an absolute need that a mountain should be 
removed which was in the way of the progress of the 
cause of God, then when your faith touches Him 



326 CKUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

who made the mountams and He says the word, the 
mountain will have to go. 

Some folks think they can bolster up their slim 
faith and help the Lord out of the difficulty which 
this utterance of His got Him into by calling this 
mountain the '* mountain of sin." Fush ! what straits 
folks put themselves to to get around Jesus' words ! 
Just as though it was easier to move off a mountain 
of sin than a mountain of dirt. 

A man with mules and dump-carts and men to pick 
and blast and shovel, could in time move a mountain 
of dirt and stone into the sea, but no human agency 
can move away the burden of sin which lays on a 
man's heart. If talk is going to do it, you might 
just as well tell a mountain to move as a sycamine 
tree to be plucked up by the roots. But talk won't 
do it. He who guided the stones David hurled from 
the sling to the giant's temple ; who was in Samson's 
muscles ; who was among the worthies in the fire ; 
and who has done everything else that is worth men- 
tioning in Divine wonders, must do it. And He will 
do what needs to be done ; but He will do nothing 
to stimulate your carnality. Mark that ! He is wiser 
than the wise. " He hath taken the wise in their own 
craftiness." He can see how a thing will turn out 
before it is done which is often obscure to us in our 
religious pomposity, or spiritual blindness. It would 
be worse than useless for God to remove one moun- 
tain and have another come up in its place — a literal 
mountain removed in answer to somebody's faith, and 
then a heap of pride to pop up in that man's heart on 
account of what he (the man) had done ! You can 
go around a mountain of dirt, but self-consequence 
is always sticking up in your face, go where you will. 



FAITH. 327 

O Heaven, show us our nothingness and Thy greatness. 

Where is your faith, brother? Is it in dry dogmas 
long ago exploded? Put it into vital issue. Is it 
in flesh ? Put it in God ; a curse rests on the one and 
a blessing on the other. 

What is your faith like ? Christ does not say if ye 
have faith as a dead mustard seed. A live mustard 
seed has power in it. Go to the Orient and plant one 
peculiar to that clime, and when germination takes 
place it will lift the cover off a man's coffin, should it 
perchance fall into it before being sealed. That 
man's prayers whose faith touches Divine forces will 
lift; and he need not make any splurge about it, 
either. A dead seed planted with state honors by 
the king is not of so much account as a live one 
dropped by a peasant's child. It is the nature of the 
seed, with God behind it, that counts, brother ; not 
the dropping. 

Faith mixed with doubts is as powerless as powder 
mixed with water. 



THE CHRISTIAN'S SPHERE. 

We bespeak for the Christian the importance of a 
state of high-raindedness. Not the high-mindedness 
of self-esteem and conceit, of which Paul warns us in 
Rom. 12 : 3 and 16, and 11 : 20, but that of Col. 3 : 1, 
and so on to the end of the chapter, where he says, — 

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which 
are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 
Set your affections on things above, not on things on the 
earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in 
God. When Christ who is our life, shall appear, then shall 
ye also appear with Him in glory. 



328 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

The next verse and onward illustrates the practical 
working of this condition of a believer. Read it 
surely, and examine yourself to see if you are there. 

Ever since the Lord Jesus left the embrace of death, 
and more particularly since His blessed feet left 
Olivet's brow and passed out of sight in the clouds, 
has the mind of the true church followed Him ; and 
her mind will never be taken from "above" till He 
cometh again — till He " who is our life appears." As 
for death she neither fears it nor loves it. So of the 
world itself. Her affections are entranced with an 
absent Lord, and can only be reconciled under the cir- 
cumstances by the presence of the blessed " Com- 
forter." 

The blessed part of it all is the benefit to the Chris- 
tian of this sphere of his mind or affections. Every- 
body knows who has " passed from death unto life," 
that the children of the bond woman and those of the 
free — Jacob and Esau, Cain and Abel, Isaac and 
Ishmael, Christ and Belial — the world and the true 
church never were on embracing terms. In a word, 
the true church has ever been the object of attack by 
her opponents — the Devil and his army. And there 
are only two ways to get out of this difficulty : turn 
round and embrace the Devil, or give it up, and follow 
the Lord with your affections and stick to it. A large 
class do the former in various ways in order to have 
*' the offence of the cross cease"; but a goodly com- 
pany propose to fight it out on this line, and if the 
others on the other side could only be made to feel 
what a glorious time we are having of it, I believe 
they would ache to re-enlist. Glorious ? Yes, 
blessed ! How so ? Why, when our affections are up 
where the Lord is (as they can and ought to be), we 



FAITH. 329 

are so touched with His returning love and His glory 
as to become in a marvelous degree impenetrable by 
the assaults of the enemy. Any good general always 
aims for a height for his batteries and armies. Is not 
this high enough? It is only in this way that we can 
be " dead to the world and alive unto God.." 

This position is not speculative, nor merely a matter 
of revelation ; it is philosophic and reasonable as well. 
It is demonstrable in every day life. Whatever 
absorbs an object eflFects a mighty change in its pre- 
existent condition. A dry sponge placed adjacent to 
and touching a certain amount of water takes it to 
itself. It is water still, to be sure, but its condition is 
changed. 

Any elevating study lifts the mind from inferior 
things as long as the mind is thus employed. Astron- 
omy — what a study it is! What a different idea of 
men and things a person may have with but a sm it- 
teringofit! We act out this truth in everyday life 
in other matters, why not in the religious ? Sir Isaac 
Newton became so entranced with his elevating stud- 
ies as to be lost to himself. Becoming too hot by an 
over-heated stove to stand it any longer, instead of 
moving away himself from it, he, in a moment of for- 
getfulness, told his servant to take it out of the room. 
I wish that the church would get so entranced about 
an absent Lord and His return as to be a little — a 
great deal more unconcerned about the Devil's over- 
heated stoves. I wish the church would become and 
stay thus interested, and be as absent-minded of the 
fretting annoyances of the evil one. This was w^h it 
furnished the endurance of the martyrs. Those whose 
affections were not up above recanted ; they could not 
stand it ; it tested them. How could that boy have 



830 CHUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

stood the rack ? While the inquisitors were busy 
punishing him, Jesus and the angels were busy, too, 
showing him the glories of victory in a better world. 
He said "It was hard to bear, but an angel stood by 
me." 

How small people look on the ground when you are 
on the top of Bunker Hill Monument ! No smaller 
than the offences of others seem when your affections 
are up in glory. Proof: — 

Father, forgive them, they know not what they do — 
(Jesus). Lord, lay not this sin to their charge — (Stephen). 

And a host of other experiences. 

In your feelings, be away up among the clouds ; but 
in your dealings, " condescend to men of low estate." 
This is no ecstatic picture to be experienced serai- 
occasionally. It is possible of every-day proof. You 
can be thus and not be noisy or crazy. It will not 
disqualify you for the discharge of business. It is the 
mighty opinion in which the gearing of every-day life 
best runs. Oh, of all peoples, those people, who claim 
that their affections have not ceased to follow our 
absent Lord since their brethren stood gazing up at 
Him in Galilee, and will not cease till from thence 
He comes again, ought to be far above the strife and 
discord of this low world. What a burning hope ! 
How it ought to purify ! How it does when you have 
it in you. Be sure you have it thus. 



FAITH AND SCIENCE. 

Bible faith is not the creature of a brain booked 
up with philosophy, astronomy, or any other of the 



FAITH. 331 

great branches of knowledge of things seen and dem- 
onstrable by human deduction and operation merely ; 
it is rather " the evidence of things not seen." Heb. 
11 : 1. 

Bible faith and science, so-called, are creatures 
peculiarly strange to each other. Their places of 
birth are as far apart as Heaven and earth. Their 
species are as widely in contrast as bird and reptile. 
Faith flies to Heaven above, where her treasure is; 
while science crawls in the labyrinthian swamps of 
the knowledge of this material world; consequently 
it is the height of folly to undertake to harness them 
abreast in a team to work for God. The one talks of 
" a bird in hand," the other of a bird " in the bush." 
Their languages are terribly incomprehensive to each 
other. They are not, or at least need not be enemies 
to each other, for they are so strangely related natur- 
ally that they cannot harm each other. Faith — a 
bird of high flight — for a moment resting on these 
shores, cannot be assailed by the wingless reptile, 
science, for she will quickly " mount up with wings 
as eagles." Science receives some sharp thrusts from 
the talons of faith, but soon disappears under the 
murky waters of unbelief beyond her reach. 

Natural science is all well enough in its place, for 
in its true sense it is the knowledge of things capable 
of being deduced methodically, that are within the 
grasp of the reasoning faculties ; but science is no 
stimulant to Bible faith ; it is no tonic to brace the 
mind sufficiently to grasp God's promises. The 
Christian must rely simply on God's Word — on His 
promises already kept ; must judge of His ability 
and integrity to perform what he has yet to do by 
his past record, and must rely fully on that record. 



332 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

Chosen and reliable witnesses have testified of the 
past but faith- alone can speak of the future, what 
the Word declares. 

As has already been noted, science in its place is 
well, for it enables us to exclaim with the patriarch, 
"Oh, Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wis- 
dom hast thou made them all." It gives us a broad 
idea of our God as the Creator of what is already in 
existence, but we have never read that such knowl- 
edge was imputed as righteousness. Faith in a God 
that can do what the natural mind will not believe, 
is what is reckoned as righteousness all through the 
Bible. And it is sickening to a child of God, who is 
healthy enough to relish His promises, to undertake 
to feed him on such thinly diluted gruel as a scien- 
tific distillation of some one of God's plain declara- 
tion — like the resurrection of the dead, for instance. 

Some things in science may faintly illustrate the 
resurrection, but will not go far enough in explana- 
tion, when rightly understood, to enable one to grasp 
this truth without faith — great faith. All scientific 
thoughts will reach out a little way toward it, but 
there is a wide chasm that we have to swing the 
gang-plank of faith over. 

It is the same power that not only made all things, 
but rules them, that creates substance out of nothing; 
that makes " a little oil " fill all the vessels in the 
neighborhood ; " one cake " feed a man "a full year; " 
'* five loaves and a few small fishes " feed five thou- 
sand, with more left than to start with ; three men 
stay in a furnace one seven times hotter than usual, 
with not " a smell of fire " on their garments ; lions 
to keep their hungry mouths shut when Daniel is in 
their midst ; — in short, makes eyes born blind to see, 



FAITH. 333 

feet numb with palsy to leap with the praises of their 
Deliverer. That power alone will make a dead man 
live. That is not science but a miracle. 

"Be not faithless, but believing^" Oh, ye doubters ! 
Harken unto God, Oh, ye worldly-wise ! Oh, ye sin- 
ners, who have hid away your crimes and debauchery 
in human snfe keeping, do ye not know that locks are 
obedient unto His Word, if ye are not ? He knows 
your hearts, ye double-minded. " Who hath been 
his counselor?" Cry for help, ye weak and heavy 
laden. Cry for mercy, ye who would be saved. 



HAVE FAITH IN GOD. 

This is an admonition from Jesus, and worthy of 
the highest attention. The Christian has, or can 
have, the assurance that perfect faith in God sur- 
mounts all difficulties, cures the worst ills, and every- 
where makes the child of God triumphant, when in 
the line of duty, though he be led through Red Seas, 
placed in the furnace, lion's den, or in any other test 
for God's glory. This may seem too great a statement 
for some whose spiritual pulse beats fitfully or is flag- 
ging ; but this is the way Jesus represented it, and 
He gave us no intimation that His policy would 
change, but he did express doubt as to his finding 
faith on the earth at His coming. 

The faith of some goes no farther than present cir- 
cumstances and their feeble spiritual vision extends, 
like the saying of the person who was in the wagon 
with a runaway horse going down hill, they " trusted 
in the Lord till the harness broke," or like another 



334 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

who trusted in God for personal safety, at the same 
time taking good care to "keep the powder dry." 
A great many are terribly afraid God cannot act 
promptly enough in cases of extreme emergency, and 
so their faith fails them on the start. Children of 
earthly fathers show much confidence in a parent 
whose past record has been faithful to them, and they 
do not hesitate to go anywhere if their hand is only 
in father's, and just in proportion to their experience 
in obedience to their father in going through dangers 
safely, will their faith in his guidance and protection 
and their love for him grow; whereas if they had 
always acted sulky, and fretted, and refused to obey 
and trust father, they never would know the value of 
his protection, and of course their faith in him would, 
though it might be strongly passive, be worthless for 
action. Our jDassive faith is strong in reading the 
summing up of the Bible examples in Hebrews, 11th 
chapter ; but our active faith is tested when we have 
a personal experience with the Lord. " These light 
afflictions " that Paul wrote about are (though they 
be thirty-nine stripes) just what brings about this 
desirable result. 

Now right here is where about nine out of every 
ten Christians fail to come out on a non-resistant 
Gospel, which Jesus and His apostles unquestionably 
preached. They simply lack faith, or even a weaker 
word — trust. They are all the time mis- trusting 
that circumstances will transpire where fighting will 
be necessary; and if you say you believe in non- 
resistance, they always bring up supposed cases of a 
rank type, and triumphantly inquire, " What would 
you do then ? " which looks very much like talking 
about tempting the Lord. There is not a single whit 



FAITH. 335 

of trust in the Lord, in such persons. To talk of 
trust and to practice it, or declare our belief in such 
a way that its practice will seem imperative, is quite 
another thing. 

If a man says he does not believe in retaliation 
either of words or blows, ten to one some one does 
not come along in some way and give him a regular 
berating or a " smite on the cheek," and if he can see 
a " trial of faith " in it before " old Adam " gets the 
start of him, he will triumph through the grace of 
God. People talk about trusting in the Lord, but 
they look out and not make out any " bill of particu- 
lars " — any points of belief that will test it. When 
we say in harmony with Jesus that we will not ren- 
der "evil for evil," but rather good, through the 
whole catalogue of particulars, we are making a fear- 
ful gap for the future that we cannot fill ourselves, 
but perfect faith in God's everlasting grace fills it 
solid. 

Now, what are the facts of entire trust in the Lord? 
We think they may be stated like this : (1) Pledging 
ourselves entirely to the Lord. (2) Keeping our 
necks out of unequal yokes with unbelievers, and 
keeping in the line of obedience and duty, ^.6., doing 
our work, expecting the Lord will His. Vengeance is 
a part of His work to repay. Rom. 12 : 19. (8) Bor- 
rowing no trouble about the future, no matter how 
our confession to truth will clash with " supposed 
cases" that may turn up, believing that God will 
keep His children from all troubles, unless somebody's 
faith is to be tested, and in that case it will be per- 
fectly easy to conquer " through Him that loved us," 
and finally taking God at His word, which is so full 
of promises of protection, deliverance, etc. See 



336 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

ninety-first Psalm, and a host of other Scriptures 
with your Concordance, taking the words faith, trust, 
fear, etc. 



THE SUMMIT OF FAITH. 




Satan, with his heavy, galling, conscience-pricking 
yoke of sin, takes the advantage of you^ sinner, in 
your laborious draft of your load of bad habits. 
Come to Jesus ! His yoke is one of peace ; " easy " 
and " light." He gives you the " advantage " — the 
longest end — in drawing along in his Gospel work to 
save others like yourself. Come, noio. 

While it is well for us to " take heed lest we fall," 
there is not so much danger of falling from faith in 
Christ as some imagine. In fact, there is more room 
on the summit of practical faith in Christ than there 
looks to be from the low plane of the world below. 
I once ascended a certain mountain in New Hamp- 
shire which well illustrates this point. You would 
think, as you stood in the highway at the base and 



TO SIKNERS. 337 

looked up to the dizzy, pointed height, " Now I shall 
not rest a moment when I get up there, for fear I 
shall fall off." But once up there and you think 
vastly different. What once looked as pointed as 
the gable end of your house at home, has now become 
a broad plain — an acre or more — of solid rock 
under your feet ; and there is no danger of falling 
off unless you go frolicking and lose your wits. You 
may rest and recuperate here in the invigorating 
atmosphere of this altitude, and look at the world 
beneath you. 

This is an example of the wonders of the natural 
vision; how by distance objects look small and by 
nearness we see their real size. It is so of the spir- 
itual or supernatural eyesight from Christian faith. 
Many follow Christ so far off that they get no rest to 
their troubled souls. They should " draw near with 
a true heart in full assurance of faith." Heb. 10 : 22. 
" Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, 
and I will give you rest," says Christ. How few really 
come and find that rest ! They start, but they do not 
come to Christ. 

" In Christ." A wonderful and frequent expression 
in the New Testament, especially in Paul's epistles, 
which can only be understood by faith. When you 
get there you can understand it. No one can by 
words make you feel as the experience will. Paul 
well says that a man in Christ is " a new creature." 
Not that a man is physically built over at conversion, 
but he feels and acts differently from what he used 
to, from the crown of his head to the sole of his feet. 
And feelings or emotions have much to do with our 
existence. Pull a man out of a dismal swamp when 
he has been wallowing in the mire all his life in fruit- 
15 



338 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

less attempts to get out, and place him on the solid 
rock of yonder mount in the sunshine, with new 
clothes on his back, and new food in his stomach, and 
he will have a '' new song in his mouth " if he is not 
absolutely a new creature, or else I am a poor judge 
of human nature. 

There is room enough in Christ if there is not in 
some sectarian circles ; room enough for those who 
wish to behave as Christ behaves. You are, remem- 
ber, to yoke up with Christ : " Take My yoke upon 
you and learn of Me" — and He will give you aii 
easier land than He takes to Himself. Now, for 
Christ's yoke to be " easy and the burden light," you 
had better conclude to follow Christ, keeping step 
with Him, or else take yourself out from the yoke. 
For you cannot pull Christ into evil places, neither 
can you pull the yoke in two. 

Yes, there is a grand freedom, a glorious liberty in 
Christ. It is like a wheel that runs within another 
wheel without chafing, when it is small enough and 
is fastened to the same arbor. A nobleman has, in 
our poverty, taken us in for life, and granted us the 
liberty of his spacious and well-appointed grounds; 
and we enjoy a peace that the world cannot give, 
while we content ourselves with the luxuries at home, 
and do not exercise our curiosity at the forbidden 
fruit over the fence. 

There is room enough in Christ for the thinker. 
Infidels can never know what "free thought" and 
" liberalism " really are until they partake of the lib- 
erty and freedom which is in Christ. The summit of 
faith may look small and narrow from their low plane ; 
but when they have once ascended its glorious height, 
and beheld the glory of the great beyond, and have 



FAITH. 339 

seen the ^' large place" into which the Lord has 
turned their feet, instead of pitying Christians for 
being pinched up in the supposed confines of faith, 
they will, in turn with Christians, fall to pitying 
others of their fellows who are out of the exalted 
condition, and turn missionaries and seek the welfare 
of their fellow-men by offering them something bet- 
ter than that which they have, instead of spending 
their time in fruitless efforts to unshelter Christians 
and offerino^ them no thin cr in return. 



THE INVISIBLE GUIDE. 

Wb read of Moses (Heb. 11 : 27), that "by faith 
he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king : 
for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible." 
Almost everybody else looked to Pharaoh for guid- 
ance ; but Moses held allegiance to a higher power. 
The king was mad to think this promising fellow had 
got it into his head to retire from his jurisdiction — 
madder still because he was going to take away so 
many of his brethren and sisters whose labors con- 
tributed so much to the wealth and comfort of the 
king. The idea was aggravating to think that this 
man was going to start out on his own hook, and 
lead a mass of people right out loose into the world ! 
And with no letter of dismissal and recommendation 
to the tender mercies of anybody else ! Where was 
his salary coming from ? Who would pay the bills ? 
I suppose the more Pharaoh thought this over the 
madder he grew ; but Moses did not fear the wrath of 
the king : for he endured as seeing Him who is invis- 



340 CKUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

ible. He had approval from a higher and unseen 
source. He had outgrown the notion of leaning on 
Pharaoh. The time had come when he must step 
out on his convictions. And the sequel showed who 
was right, as it generally does sooner or later. 

This is not an unprofitable lesson for even this late 
day. It will be a wonder if there is not now some 
Moses in Egyptian bondage. There are plenty who 
believe some church — usually theirs — is a king- 
dom, especially those who are acting the part of 
kings in it. And likely as not God has somebody 
there whom He has had His eye upon from baby- 
hood, as He had on Moses ; and the time may come 
when God will lead him out into a larger place. In 
this case probably the king will be mad, but you who 
lead and are led out must " endure as seeing Him 
who is invisible." Look to God for approval. 

There has always been a tendency on the part of 
mankind to look at visible powers for guidance ; and 
that is none the less true now. Every now and then 
you learn of some one who has laid his tired head — 
tired of doing his own thinking — on the bosom of 
some pope or prelate and purposes to 

Breathe his life out sweetly there. 

How natural it is to look more to the church, the 
clergy, the conference for guidance, than it is to Him 
who has promised to guide us with His eye. How 
more frequently some one is commended to this 
church, that conference and that clergyman than to 
" God who is able to build us up and give us an 
inheritance among all them which are sanctified." 
Multitudes are bewitched after ritualistic worship 
because they are "looking at the things which are 



FAITH. 341 

seen." What folks want is something to look at and 
admire and idolize. If it is not a gaudy church, a 
fancy minister, a high-toned choir and a bellowing 
organ, then it is apt to be man in some other way. 
What people are after is a golden calf of some kind. 
They are not content to " endure as seeing Him who 
is invisible." They worship form and deny the Lord 
that bought them. They are living upon one 
another or trying to live while they are dead — 
instead of looking to Him who is *' the fountain of 
life." Show me a man or woman who endures as 
seeing Him who is invisible, and I will show you one 
who is spiritually alive, and ever bringing out of the 
treasure house things both new and old, and as true 
as they are new. But, on the other hand, show me 
one who looks too much at the church, and confer- 
ence or denomination, and I will show you one who 
is lean all through. There is no lack of churches 
and denominations now, but there is a sad lack of 
heaven -born spirituality, and there needs be a change 
backward to the spiritual life that follows God, and 
encourages others in doing it, instead of being 
wrathy at them for doing it, and the reason is 
obvious. 

What is needed to bring about the desired change 
is that faith that endures *' as seeing Him is invis- 
ible." Hear the Inspired Word a little farther des- 
cribing it. 2 Cor. 4 : 17, 18. 

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, work- 
eth for us as a far more exceeding and eternal weight of 
glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but 
at the things which are not seen : for the things which are 
seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are 
eternal. 2 Cor. 5 : 7 : For we walk by faith, not by sight. 
Rom. 8: 24, 25: For we are saved by hope: but hope that 



342 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet 
hope for ? But if we hope for that we see not, then do 
we with patience wait for it. 1 Cor. 13: 12: For now we 
see through a glass darkly : but then face to face ; now I 
know in part: but then shall I know even as I am known. 
Heb. 11: 1, 2: Now faith is the substance of things hoped 
for, the evidence of things not seeu. For by it the elders 
obtained a good report. 

The elders often get a good report now, not so 
much by a living, experimental, practical faith in God, 
as they do by belonging to some synod or conference, 
in which they have " a good standing " in ratio to 
their silence on things which said synod or conference 
do not like to hear, and their talkativeness on things 
which it sets down as the faith once delivered to the 
saints. We want to see to it that we do not adopt the 
same rule of good report for our elders. It will be 
better for us to have more elders like Moses. 



HOPE, 343 



CHAPTER XII. 



A REASON FOR YOUR HOPE. 

The Lord requires you to be divinely qualified to 
"be ready always to give an answer to every man 
that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, 
with meekness and fear." 1 Pet. 3 : 15. We are not 
required to do this homiletically and exegetically. 
We may not be able to formulate a theory that will 
be relished by a divinity school ; possibly we cannot 
marshal much of the contents of a grammar or dic- 
tionary ; but by the power of an indwelling Christ 
who is full of simplicity, and in whom we are com- 
plete, we can take the Word of God and meet the 
inquirer, whether he be of a peaceful or warlike dis- 
position. The great reason of failure here is because 
some one wants to meet Goliath in Saul's armor 
instead of with the simple sling and smooth stone of 
the shepherd boy. These infidel Goliaths nowadays 
are all fixed up for high-sounding words and glitter- 
ing arguments ; but when some young David slings 
some simple story of Gospel grace at them under 
God's direction, they are taken completely by sur- 
prise and laid out. Adhere to " the simplicity which 
is in Christ." Stick to the Word. Study, meditate 
and pray over it, and you will be " thoroughly fur- 
nished unto every good work." 

Hope is everywhere compared to an anchor, and so 
it is in the Bible. The Christian's hope is as " an 



344 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which 
entereth into that within the vail ;• whither the fore- 
runner is for us entered, even Jesus." Anchors must 
fasten upon something substantial to hold an object. 
What would a hundred or a million cubic feet of 
ethereal space amount to in which to cast anchor? 
The Christian's hope must take hold of something if 
he expects to outride the gale of present unbelief 
everywhere prevalent ; and if it takes hold of some- 
thing, he ought to know what that something is to 
be able to give " a reason of the hope that is in him." 
And so it does, and we do know what it is. Our hope 
has followed a risen Christ within the vail ; and our 
tempest-tossed bark shall never leave her anchorage 
till " this same Jesus shall so come in like manner as 
ye have seen Him go into Heaven." Thank God, we 
do not drift about with every wind of doctrine. 

Hope — the Christian's hope — is not a blind san- 
guineness ; a condition where one must brush up and 
appear smart with no satisfactory reasons. Like a 
true inventor, let every obstacle to ultimate success be 
speedily named, and the true Christian will surmount 
them all, because he has "counted the cost." He 
does not repel inquiry ; he craves it. As with a holy 
calm he surveys the eternal solidity of his hope he 
quivers not when devils advance bent upon destruc- 
tion or investio-ation. He is courao^eous not without 
reason; he has been permitted to take a look into 
the armory of the Lord ; helmet, sword, shield, breast- 
plate, shoes — all inspire him with invincibility. 

It is affliction and trials which qualify the Christian 
to give a reason of his hope. A fortnight of patient, 
prayerful reconciliation under severe affliction or trial 
will teach a sensible disciple of Christ more than he 



HOPE. 345 

could learn in a theological seminary in six months. 
As engraving " with an iron pen " upon the metals is 
more enduring than chalk upon a board fence, so will 
his hope in this way become '* grounded and settled." 
God grant us patience to endure, that we may know 
the wisdom that comes to us through the ministry of 
suffering. 



EXPERIENCE AND HOPE. 

Christian character is something like a clock. 
You cannot run the thing with one wheel and keep 
good time. There are those who seem to think that 
all there is to Christian character is a honey-pot of 
present experience. How they will buzz over and 
devour it, while they are as blind as a bat to wha,t 
constitutes the future blessedness of the Christian. 
That is one extreme. Others are the picture of 
gloom in the present, and faintly hope — do not 
know — that they are Christians, and never will till 
an angel shouts in their deaf ears, " You are in God's 
kingdom, never more to go out — a land of corn and 
wine." And I do not know then but that — like the 
drone who was to be buried alive — they will ask if 
the corn is shelled. That is the other extreme. 
Happily we need not be in either, but know the Lord 
our God in the present tense, sit at His table, work 
in His vineyard, have a hundred fold in this life, lay 
up a good foundation against the time to come, and 
in the world to come have life everlasting. 

A person who is revolving with perfect content- 
ment in the circle of present experience, however 
rich it may be, is defective in Christian character and 
15* 



346 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

grace. God does not get through with us in this 
present tense — does not save us fully here, no mat- 
ter how much we have to say about "full salvation." 
The redemption of the body, and the renovation of 
the earth-man's home — is yet future, and to be 
earnestly desired and hoped for. A rich experience 
with God here, which may have to be brought about 
by tribulation, is but the foundation of that other 
attribute of Christianity — hope. 

Knowing that tribulation worketh patience ; and patience, 
experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketli not 
ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our 
hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Rom. 5 ; 
3-5. 

And an indefinite hope is just no hope at all. We 
are to 

Sanctify the Lord God in our hearts : and be ready always 
to give an answer to every man that asketh us a reason of 
the hope that is in us, with meekness and fear. 1 Pet. 8 : 
15. 

A sanctified man should sanctify the Lord God in* 
his heart and not only have a scriptural hope, but be 
ready always to give the "Thus saith the Lord," 
chapter and verse, of its basis. David said, " Let me 
never be ashamed of my hope." A hope which is 
built on the bed-rock of Scripture is one that we need 
not be ashamed of ; and what is more, it " maketh 
not ashamed." 

Put the wheel of Bible hope into your Christian 
gearing, brother. 

And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth him- 
self, even as He [Christ] is pure. 1 John 3 : 3. 



TEUST. 347 

Then a scriptural hope is a mighty factor toward 
heart purity ; and makes the prayer of Christ perti- 
nent here : " Sanctify them through thy truth : thy 
Word is truth." John 17 : 17. 



TRUSTING AND DOING. 

There are those who trust in the Lord and do noth- 
ing; who manage to dwell in the land and get fed until 
people find them out. But God's genuine people, 
true to His Word, trust in Him and do good, and 
have a right to dwell in the laud, and eat their own 
bread. Psa. 37: 2; 2 Thess. 3: 12. They are "not 
slothful in business," as well as " fervent in Spirit 
serving the Lord." Whatsoever they do is done to 
the Glory of God, whether their hands are hold of 
the hoe handle or the contribution box. 

Paul argued the case to Philemon (verse 11) that 
Onesimus' conversion made a better servant of him. 
The idea conveyed is, that before he was converted 
he was a sort of scape-grace, who cleared out and 
left Philemon's service ; but when God converted 
him he rnade a man of him and sent him back. When 
master and servant get soundly converted, as in this 
case, it solves " the labor problem," and prevents any 
*' strike " save a strike for the kingdom. 

Real old-fashioned Gospel conversion makes a man 
better in every sense. If he has been an idle vaga- 
bond, God will not necessarily send the fool to preach 
and make a greater fool of himself and of others, but 
sets him quietly to work ; and he will be industrious, 
soon giving evidences of thrift. A hill of p(3tatoes in 



348 CRUMBS OF THE BKEAD OF LIFE. 

good soil, well planted and hoed, is of more account 
than a sermon which God has not had charge of from 
the start. 

Why, there are doubtless many men in the pulpit 
who will come up so fresh to the eternal gate at last, 
saying, " We have prophesied in Thy name, and in 
Thy name done many wonderful works." And Christ 
will say, "I never knew you." They preached long 
enough, but there was no Christ in it. But there will 
be many a sturdy son of toil, just from the corn field 
and the fig-trees, in answer to the great Husband- 
man's beckoning hand, who will come up with such a 
retiring, modest, almost distrustful way, with whom 
Christ got acquainted a long while ago, when they 
were working with their hands the thing that was 
good, and giving to him that needeth. You cannot 
help one of Christ's true people in distress except' he 
notices it, if it is nothing but a cup of cold water in 
the name of a disciple. He shall in no wise lose his 
reward. Safe investment. No dividends skipped at 
Heaven's bank, while a rich cashier takes a night 
train for another clime. 

Well, you say, I am going to trust in the Lord. 
Yes ; but what are you going to do about it ? The 
man who does nothing does not trust in the Lord, and 
that is what is the matter with sojoie folks' trust. It 
is like a store-keeper who advertises to sell goods on 
credit, and locks the door and goes out the back way? 
and peeks through the board fence and sees a poor 
fellow come up and try the door. If you are going 
to trust, then stand behind the counter and measure 
off the calico. 

Just sg if you are going to trust the Lord, then 
step out on His promises. Give Him credit for all 



TRUST. 349 

He is worth, if you can. Push your faith to the 
front. God has never taken the poor debtor's oath 
yet, but He did swear to Abraham that He would 
carry out the whole programme ; and as there is 
nobody higher to swear by, He could only say, "As I 
live." His credit is good yet ; and may we live so 
that our credit will be good with Him. 



SECRET INSURANCE SOCIETIES. 

Do you believe in these secret insurance societies 
which have sprung up so numerously within the past 
few years ? Well, I should think Satan's children 
would want to try to provide some means of protec- 
tion, since they can claim none from the Lord, only 
the commonest blessings, sunshine and rain. (Matt. 
5: 45.) Why do not you join some one of them? 
It is not necessary since I belong to one already, 
which is far better. These that you speak of are 
young and untried by plague, pestilence and war ; 
while the one I belong to is old and reliable. Let 
me describe mine. 

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High 
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Ps. 91 : 1. 

Well, supposing you should die — and you know 
Christians die — and leave your wife, would it not be 
a good thing to leave her a few thousand dollars? 
Yes ; money is good, but a believing wife without 
the money is better than an unbelieving wife with 
the money. As to leaving my wife, there is One 
who has promised to take care of such as put their 



350 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

trust in Him. "For thy Maker is thy husband." 
Isa. 54 : 5. He who from the agonies of the cross 
looked after the wants of the widowed mother, will 
see that all such are taken care of, after we have 
exhausted all the scriptural means that we could for 
their welfare. 

Well, supposing you should leave children ? 

When my father and my mother forsake me, then the 
Lord will take me up. Ps. 27 : 10. 

That little word supposing is much used now 
among the faithless. Years ago, when God's people 
had faith, these secret protective insurance societies 
were unknown. Now that the world has displaced 
their faith, they begin to be anxious for the morrow, 
and bind their destinies with unbelievers. It is a 
question, in the face of all God's numberless promises 
of protection to the righteous, whether it is right for 
them to resort to this latter-day extremity of joining 
a secret society, — " yoking up equally with unbeliev- 
ers." for fear they or their families will come to 
want. It is all right to do all that we justly can to 
provide for our families in order that we may claim 
God's blessing, but there is such a thing as getting 
too unrighteously anxious for the morrow. 

Who is the dispenser of prosperity but the Lord 
our God? Has He not promised to specially bless 
such as are upright and put their trust in Him ? Has 
He not promised to chasten those who go astray 
from His ways ? Better it is to dwell " in the secret 
place" with Him, though our future financial outlook 
be gloomy, than to be ever so nicely provided for in 
this world's goods, and dwell not under His blessing. 
He can send disease to chasten the wayward, and 



TRUST. 351 

health to bless the loyal. What is better than good 
health? 

Godliness is profitable unto all things, having the prom- 
ise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 
Grodhness with contentment is great gain. 



COMMIT THY WAY. 

Commit thy way unto the Lord. Psa. 37 : 5. 

The usual way of conveying a matter from one 
body to the attention of another body is through a 
committee ; but in this matter of submitting the care 
and direction of your life to the Lord it only takes a 
committee of one, and that is you^ my reader. A 
committee is simply a body that does business bring- 
ing it to the attention of another, and in so doing 
commits itself. 

The Lord has duly authorized you as the committee 
to commit your ways unto Him. Will you do it ? 
By faith you can do the whole business in five min- 
utes — by works it never will be done. 

Here Lord I give myself and all I am to Thee, 
Thine, henceforth, eternally. 

That is all you can do. And make your future acts 
to correspond to that transaction. 

" Cast thy burden on the Lord and He shall sustain 
thee." Some people cast their burdens on the Lord 
the way a boy throws his toy return ball — with an 
elastic cord attached to it and tied to the wrist, and 
in due time it comes bounding back. Sever your 



352 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

connection with that burden, brother, before you 
attempt to cast it on the Lord, and you will have 
better success in the operation. Slip over by faith to 
where God lives, and ring the bell in dead earnest. 
Let that burden down on the doorstep and say, " Here, 
gracious Lord, by thy loving invitation I leave this 
burden with you." And don't you take it back 
again ; leave it^ leave the responsibility with Him ; He 
can take care of it and you to. 

The great enemy of our peace would fain make us 
think this is a lengthy and difficult job. He has 
always pitched his hottest battles against faith. Of 
course, because that is the live point in a Christian. 
And you not only want faith but you must have the 
shield of faith. And you need one larger than the 
cover of your dinner pail. Ancient shields just about 
covered the body of a man so that too much manipu- 
lation of it would not be required. Let the Devil 
fire away with his darts, they will break in pieces 
against your shield at your feet, and you may pick 
them up for kindling wood. 

" Commit thy way to the Lord." It is the act of 
faith. Unbelief would draw out the operation to 
tedious lengths, but with pure faith it is quickly done. 
Great things can be accomplished at once when you 
go the right way to work. Vanderbilt gave away 
two hundred millions of money in a moment by sign- 
ing his name to a paper which was all made out. 
Some fellow might make more fuss in giving away ^ 
peanut stand and then not do it legally. Well, you 
say, I am weak ; I cannot talk or pray like other peo- 
ple. Good! Rufus Choate's sprawling handwriting 
at the bottom of Rufus Choate's will, is of more 
account in the judge's estimation toward giving 



TRUST. 353 

validity to the will, than if he had hired a commer- 
cial college chap to write it in true Spencerian style. 
Because the first thing the judge of probate would 
ask the witness to it would be : Was this Rufus 
Choate's free act ? And then the witness would have 
to say, Well, he did not sign it because he could not 
write pretty enough ; so he hired a fellow to sign his 
name in that pretty way. But the judge would have 
to shake his head at that document. The fact is, 
brother, God wants you to commit your way — your- 
self Xo Him in your own handwriting if it does look 
awkward. They will get familiar with it at the bank 
of Heaven, after awhile ; and when it comes up then 
it won't take so long to identify it. Some people 
think that piety consists in imitating other folks — 
their experience, or their way, or their tone of voice. 
There was no greater mistake ever made. God wants 
you to commit your way to him. Put your individu- 
ality into it. If He was not infinite in knowledge He 
would be puzzled to recognize some people by the 
way they worship Him ; it is so different from the 
way they do their other business. All smiles and 
affability over the counter, making a man almost buy 
a thing whether he wants it or not; but in meeting — 
Who is that man with the long sour face over there ? 
Why ! that is Brother Agreeable whom you traded 
with yesterday. Well, I should never mistrust it. 
God help us to sanctify ourselves to Him. 



354 CKUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

RELIGION AT HOME. 

Unlike clothing, that religion is best for public 
appearance which is well worn every day at home. 
Some have a way of using their piety, we know, as 
they do their clothes — the poorest in private, and the 
best in public ; but, like the coal heaver who is in the 
smut all the week, they seldom appear natural in 
their Sunday outfit. You would hardly know them. 
But there are others whose actions and spiritual attire 
are more uniform. Know them once and you know 
them forever. You are not surprised to see them on 
their knees in the Lord's house, calling upon His 
name, or upon their feet testifying of His goodness, 
and inviting sinners to His fold. You are not sur- 
prised at this because you have become acquainted 
with their religion at home, at the store, the shop, or 
wherever duty during the week has called them. 
They have put on the uniform of the Captain of 
their salvation, both to work and to be reviewed in. 
Their emotions are -well balanced. They would as 
soon shout victory at some conquest gained over self 
in trade, as over some exhilirating remark in meeting. 

The sawing and planing mill is run by a stationary 
engine, and upon that engine is a governor to regu- 
late its power and speed. If makes little difference 
whether some one is pressing a hemlock knot against 
a saw, or a poplar stick ; the engine keeps going just 
the same. We need the governor — " Christ in us." 
Christ in us, and we shall be religious at home. 
With all the chafing annoyances, we shall at least be 
decently pleasant there. We shall not be chronic 
complainers and blamers. We shall love wife, and 
not provoke the children to anger. Christ in the 



CHRIST IN THE HOME. 365 

household is the unseen and magic power that moves 
its multiplied gear in quiet peace. The washing has 
been done in surprisingly quick time as wife has 



Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. 

The bread has been prepared for the table in none 
the worse condition for thinking as the leaven was 
kneaded in, that "the kingdom of Heaven is like 
leaven which a woman took and hid in three meas- 
ures of meal till the whole was leavened " ; or that 
Christ is the bread of Heaven to us; or that "man 
shall not live by bread alone, but by every word 
that Cometh from God." 

There is a place in every mill-pond to get the aver- 
age depth of water therein ; so at home, or the place 
of business is the place to measure piety. Let us 
have Christ there. You may place a motto on the 
wall, " God bless our home," but he will not bless it 
unless you have Christ there. You may have piety 
spread on the wall in a multiplicity of beautiful mot- 
toes, and not have Christ. You cannot deceive the 
wise. "The wise shall understand," They under- 
stand in what homes Christ lives by visiting them 
long enough. But one thing, however, they cannot 
understand, and that is how a family can be run with- 
out family prayers, when Daniel the prophet, a single 
man, had to pray three times a day. How fading is 
the piety of a household where the murmur of prayer 
is not heard within its walls. 

Family religion is not to be summed up in a stereo- 
typed prayer which is said morning and evening, nor 
in " saying grace " at the table. No, no ! it is mixed 
all through the days' duties. Avoid stereotyped 



356 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

prayers and " graces." Sink the shaft into a richer 
vein now and then. 

Let Christ reign at home. We cannot start our 
children in life with a richer heritage, than with the 
memories of Christ learned at home. 



CHRIST IN THE HOME. 

Christ's religion is peculiarly a home religion. It 
was so in its inception and early stages, and must 
ever be so till the end of time. 

The angel came to the home of Mary to announce 
the glad tidings that she would be the mother of 
Zion's Deliverer. And after a while Mary went over 
to visit her cousin Elizabeth and tell her experience. 
And what a praising of God they had there together ! 
If they could not talk much in meeting, they knew 
how to praise the Lord at home. " My soul doth 
magnify the Lord," said Mary. A glorious magnify- 
ing glass of faith she had, and a grand object to con- 
template. Nowadays when the women go visiting 
and drink their tea they are apt to talk about their 
neighbors too much, and magnify their faults. But 
it would be more to the good of the cause of Christ 
if there were more Elizabeths and Marys who would 
not be ashamed to bear children for God, and visit 
each other to praise His holy name. Mary visited 
Elizabeth this time three months. Now that did 
not give her much chance to visit and gossip from 
house to house as a busybody, did it ? Modern fash- 
ionable calls were not know then. After they get 
the neighbor's affairs all discussed they want to be 



THE FAMILY. 357 

off, nowadays, looking for other fields in which to 
sow the seeds of gossip. 

" Make haste and come down," shouted Christ 
to Zaccheus up in the sycamore-tree, " for today I 
must abide at thy house." And His blessed Gospel 
was largely preached in the houses of His disciples 
and by the way-side ; for the Devil had got posses- 
sion of the synagogues, as He has today in too many 
instances, and was hard to rout. Once He read a 
portion of the Prophet Isaiah's writings and pointed 
out the present fulfillment of prophecy; and He 
would have been literally killed for that if they 
could have got hold of Him. Twice He went into 
the temple, not to preach but to drive out the wick- 
edness from His Father's house ; and object sermon. 

In apostolic times prayer-meetings were held and 
churches organized in dwelling-houses. And so in 
Paul's epistles we read his salutations to persons and 
to the " church which is in thy house." All this is to 
signify that Christianity must start right at home ; 
for if it starts -right there it will be right in the 
church. Home religion carried to church is more 
potent than church religion carried home. " The 
strength of a nation is in the homes of its people," 
gDme one has well said. It is especially so of that 
" nation " unto whom the kingdom of Christ is given ; 
and if they ever bring forth " the fruits thereof," the 
tree must be well watered and dressed at home by 
family religion. 



358 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

CONTAGIOUS MOODS. 

"Like begets like." One yawn — useless story — 
begets another; and before you are aware of it a 
whole company may be yawning. Crossness is as 
contagious as measles — more so, for '' handsome folks 
and hogs" are said to have the measles only twice; 
while crossness knows no such limit, but makes hogs 
of all. When the swiftly hurled ball goes skipping 
down the alley and hits the head pin, look out for 
"a ten strike" for they will be all down. When the 
Devil succeeds in getting the head of the family sour 
and cross, look out for "a ten strike" in that house 
if there are that number of members in that house- 
hold. It spreads like kerosene spilled on the floor. 
"Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth." 
It reminds me of the rhyme about *'The house that 
Jack built;" *' The priest all shaven and shorn that 
tossed the dog that worried the cat," etc., etc., etc., 
"that upset the house that Jack built." Oh! they are 
very catching, these moods of ours, especially the 
imperatwe mood. We who have children growing 
up under our example ought to be as gentle and 
careful as a man who operates on folks' eyes. " Oh ! it 
was not worth noticing, what I said; it was next to 
nothing." Yes, yes, but number one is next to noth- 
ing and that cross word, number one, multiplied by 
cross word, number two, and so ob, is what spreads 
the matter. It is the law of progression which the 
blacksmith would put into use by taking a kernel of 
corn for the first nail in shoeing the horse and doubled 
for every nail until the whole thirty two nails were in 
and the result should be his pay for the job! More 
corn w^ uld be coming to him than would be raised in 
town, probably. 



THE FAMILY. 359 

"Let us scatter seeds of kindness for our reaping 
bye and bye." Get the sunshine of Jesus in the 
heart and then let it shine out. An ever cheerful 
smiling countenance is a sinking fund into which 
crossness and crabbedness sink. Blessings on him 
who makes people smile rather than cry unless it is 
crying on account of their sins and that is a sure road 
to smiles. "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he 
also reap." I pity a man or woman who has been 
sowing thorns all their lives. He or she is to be con- 
gratulated ere long who has been diligent with the 
seed basket of kindness. "Slow!" I have seen that 
word painted in huge black letters on a white board 
nailed across the top of a post and planted at a dan- 
gerous curve for the engineers' guidance as they come 
steaming into town with their precious load of lives. 
Slow^ there! father, mother; you have got a precious 
load there behind you to say nothing of your own sal- 
vation. Be careful. Look out and "throttle" that 
valve, that tongue of yours there at the proper time. 
"Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath." Go 
to wrath like a snail ; but go on errands of mercy 
like a steam engine. 



THE SULKS. 

This strange freak has been supposed to be con- 
fined solely to small children with large tempers. 
To see the phenomenon in full blast, you need only 
to cross such a child's caprices, when it will throw 
itself upon the floor, and thrash about generally, and 
pout until it is humored to have its own way. This 



360 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

affords a speedy temporary relief, but no permanent 
cure. But such a malady ought to be cured in its in- 
fancy for several reasons. (1) It is the easiest time. 
Flowers which have bad odors and seeds should be 
nipped in the bud. (2) No one can always have 
his way in this world, and the sooner so taught the 
better. (3) It makes better and more loyal children 
of God to see to it that we have obedient children of 
men. 

The remedy that we should prescribe for this com- 
plaint which breaks out in youth, is something of a 
driving nature, to keep it out ; for unless this is done 
it strikes in and corrupts the whole system, and 
breaks out in older years in a more aggravating 
form. The old and tried remedy is " the rod." It 
makes no difference what kind of a rod; the live 
sprout of most any tree is good. The quantity to be 
given varies somewhat with the constitution of the 
patient and the stubbornness of the case. It may be 
well to observe that Solomon who has been cele- 
brated for his wisdom, cautioned folks against too 
sparing doses, lest they " spoil the child." Not that 
there might not be cases where the zealous might 
give an overdose, but as a general thing there would 
be a failure in quantity. But since Solomon's day 
there have been rapid strides in wisdom. The rod is 
now cunningly made at the confectioner's and richly 
embellished with crimson stripes, and to be taken 
inside instead of out. We know a boy who asked 
his mother where she was going one day, and to her 
reply that she was going down to the store, said : 
" Well, you may as well get some more candy to hire 
me with." 

This wrong method of guiding the young has 



THE FAMILY. 361 

worked baneful results among us. Paul thought that 
a man who could not rule his own house was unfit to 
oversee the house of God. He was right. And not 
only does a child who has been petted and allowed 
his own way while young become a crooked church- 
member to get along with (if he ever becomes one), 
but those adults whose training has even been good 
while they were young, but who have imbibed the 
modern idea of training their own children, are apt 
to want what they allow their children — their own 
way. There are causes for pouting, sulking, peevish 
and fretful church-members, which lie farther back 
than their present surroundings oftentimes. I care 
not what a person's training may have been while 
young, unless it is put into practice in their own day 
its potency for obedience in the house of God is lost. 
That man will stand God's chastisements and train- 
ing best, being loving and obedient, who practices 
the same thing in his own home, and sees its bene- 
ficial effects uj^on. his own children. He who admin- 
isters government knows how to be governed. and 
knows its worth. 

This idea of love has, through the agency of the 
Devil, I believe, been completely perverted. People 
are ever looking to present effects instead of future 
results, not only in dealing with their children, but in 
the care of their own souls. " The prudent [or wise] 
man foreseeth the evil," but the enemy of all good 
blinds folks to future weal. Present comfort leaving 
future blessing to take care of itse]f, has been the 
teachino; of Satan from Eden down throuo-h all the 
history of the church and the family. It has warj^ed 
the theology of the church and undermined the peace 
of the family. This false conception of whit real 
16 



362 CKUMBS OF THE BKEAD OF LIFE. 

love is has to an alarming extent robbed the govern- 
ment of God of future retribution and present chas- 
tisement, and weakened the quality of Christianity. 
Universal restorationism is getting to be largely the 
faith of the masses. But it is cherished only by re- 
fusing to believe the revelation of God. 



THE SALVATION OF CHILDREN. 

As salvation is clearly set forth in the Scriptures as 
based upon faith or belief, it is claimed by some that 
little children who are too small to experience faith 
or belief, mast of necessity be damned, notwithstand- 
ing Christ's blessing and acceptance of them and His 
using them as an object illustrative of what we must 
be, in many respects, to enter the kingdom of God. 
Our only concern — and that is great — for the little 
ones is, that they may be so trained up at home and 
in the Sabbath-school as not to depart from it when 
of maturer age. 

Let all who are not satisfied with the Lord's words 
of love and assurance regarding little children, turn 
back to the antitype and learn of all those six hun- 
dred thousand who left Egypt on foot (" beside chil- 
dren," Ex. 12: 37) for the promised land, that only 
two — Caleb and Joshua — were permitted to enter 
it, because of their murmuring and complaining, and 
devilishness generally. But how about the children ? 
Turn to Deut. 1 : 35, and read on to the 39th verse, 
and find out about the grown-up folks and consider 
the fate of the little ones in verses 39 and 40 : — 

Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, 
and your children, which in that day had no knowledge 



PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY. 363 

between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto 
them will I give it, and they shall possess it. But as for 
you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by 
the way of the Red Sea. 

Do not bother your heads as to how children are to 
be taken care of in the kingdom of God. If Caleb 
and Joshua, with the help of the Lord, could take 
care of that host, we will not be troubled with them 
in the world to come. See that you are not unbeliev- 
ing, murmuring and complaining, so as to get shut out 
yourself. The Lord has a very tender regard for the 
little ones — the children — as do all of His true 
followers. 

What a host of people will fail to enter the prom- 
ised land because of unbelief, and their lusting for the 
things that they left behind ! And what a host of their 
little children will go in in spite of them. Brethren, 
try hard with the true Calebs and Joshuas to meet 
your little ones in the kingdom of God. 



INDIVIDUAL RELIGION. 

Whatever may be our family, society and church 
connections, they are in nowise to interfere with the 
quantity and quality of our individual religion. Our 
relation to God is in the first place of a personal char- 
acter, and He will press His demands upon us in that 
line until they are savingly met and carried out. He 
will permit no excuse as to the imperfections of others 
to come between us and Him to cut down the height 
of our personal responsibility to Him. Exacting so 
much of us, His love and good- will are. shown us in 



364 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

that He has pledged us every needed grace, and the 
ministry of the angels to help us to accomplish this 
what might otherwise be a hopeless effort. God com- 
mences at the right spot to unravel the work of sin, 
and says, " Son, give Me thine heart." Nothing but 
prime, personal love and loyalty to Him will answer; 
and He guards that heart with such a jealous eye, that 
when it is obtained He will see that it is properly 
approved and protected. 

The one grand need of today is individual religion. 
There are churches enough, denominations enough, 
collective appliances enough of all kinds, if rightly 
applied, to make Satan's kingdom tremble from center 
to circumference ; but there is not heartfelt love and 
loyalty enough in the whole rank and file of them. 
Armies cannot achieve victories unless the men of the 
ranks have got the fight in them, I care not how 
imposing may be the organization or how strict may 
be the discipline. They may be able to control the 
men to some degree, but they must not forget that it 
is with these men that they must control the enemy. 
What can they do of an aggresive character unless 
each man has a heart for the conflict? What may 
they not do if he has ? 

There is too much drafting, too much camp routine, 
and too little enlisting, too little real aggresive war- 
fare upon the snugly camped and drowsing hosts of 
sin. People have come to trust too much for salva- 
tion in church relations, and too little in personal 
responsibility and endeavor. There is too much 
attention bestowed upon the body and too little upon 
the great " Head of the Church," What is the body 
without the head ? The relation of body to head 
determines strength, and not the body alone. Cursed 



PRACTICAL CHEISTIANITY. 365 

is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. 
Israel's strength is not in Israel, but in Israel's God. 
Foolish and sinful are the Davids who number Israel 
as a basis of strength. Wise and righteous are the 
Gideons who will consent to the cutting down of pro- 
fessed Israel to the basis of true strength — individual 
loyalty. To weave a piece of cloth is well if there is 
strength in each fiber that enters it ; but is it wise if 
there are elements of decay already set in amongst 
the threads? Is not the preparation of single threads 
of sound yarn a more paying business than weaving 
rotten cloth ? A single sound thread will bind up a 
broken limb, but shoddy cloth — who wants it? Some 
think organization is the one thing needful to produce 
effective work, but in my opinion what is now needed 
is more piety to the square inch. You may well 
organize loyal hearts and do noble work, but Benedict 
Arnolds '^/^^organized are Benedict Arnolds organized. 

"In union there is strength '' is a saying which does 
not fit every case. The strength of union depends 
upon the quality of the things united and their com- 
bined relation to each other. Much of modern union 
could be better named adulteration. Let us not be in 
too great haste to mix ingredients until each has been 
properly analyzed. Before the Apostle would have 
the church put together he would have it fitly framed 
or joined. Unless men will submit to the fitting pro- 
cess, the framework is better off without them. 

Whatever may be the success or failure of all 
organized effort, we mast stand for God alone. We 
shall so stand at the judgment, God will not take 
church book or denominational relations as the basis 
of judgment. But for our own strength and good we 
should so stand here. Amidst indecision let us with 



366 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

Joshua decide that "As for us we will serve the 
Lord." Amidst a Babel of opinions let us with 
David say, — 

As for me I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall 
be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness. Psa. 17: 15. 



FRETTING. 

All kinds of fret sawing done here. 

I HAVE seen some such a sign on a lumber mill, but 
a similar business is carried on in families, and other 
places of social intercourse. 

Fret, fret^ fret. That man who frets in his 
family, if he has the care of machinery, and should 
hear such irritation and friction going on, would grab 
his oil-can and be off like a reindeer, to cool off the 
hot'box. Pour in the oil, in the family circle, brother; 
the oil of love, and see how much better the family 
will run without friction. 

You great, strong man, I have but little charity for 
your fretting ; but there is your poor wife, who pos- 
sibly has borne you a half-dozen healthy babes, no 
wonder she frets at the twitching of apron strings she 
gets by the anxious little inquirers at her feet, while 
cooking your dinner on a hot day ; and you come in 
fretting because it is not ready ! I say, I have but 
little sympathy for you, but lots for her. She ought 
to have sympathy because her fretting comes, not 
from lack of piety, but from weak nerves, overwork, 
anxiety and care, which all good mothers are liable 
to. 



THE FAMILY. 367 

There is going to be a day of rest — there is one 
which "reraaineth " — a good long day, one of these 
days to these poor, bat honorable mortals, who all 
through the voyage of life have been below in the 
heat, running machinery and caring for others' com- 
forts. 

Mothers, do not throw yourselves away just because 
you feel like fretting and giving up, thinking that you 
have not got that baptism of endless peace which 
others, with nothing to do but knit and crochet, seem 
to have. God will not forget your labor of love in the 
scullery. If God did not admire anybody but parlor 
folks, the world to come would contain poor speci- 
mens of humanity. Do not worry about God's run- 
ning off with the shuck and leaving the corn behind. 
Perhaps the Devil has about convinced you that he is 
in you and is running you, but the fact is you are too 
busy to pay much attention to him anyway. He is in 
that idler's head over the way who appears so sancti- 
monious, but is full of all inward corruption. No, it is 
not the Devil in yon so much as your tired, weak 
nerves, which he may take advantage of. Remedy 
the difficulty if you can. Rest. Go on a visit among 
your relatives, leaving the man of the house, if need 
be, to try boarding-house fare a while, and he will 
relish your cooking better when you get back, 
Change of scenery works wonders. No actor could 
act acceptably without change of the scene. Avoid 
all nerve drains, and avoid all nerve stimulants and 
cordials to exhilarate and soothe abused nerves. 
'* Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the 
feeble knees. "Say to them that are of a fearful 
heart, Be strong, fear not : behold your God will come 
with vengeance, even God with a recompense ; He 
will come and save you." Isa. 85 : 4. 



368 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

**PUT ON CHARITY."— Col. 3: 14. 

Of all the fruits that we as Christians should bear, 
none are we more deficient in than charity. In fact 
that branch of the tree is well nigh barren, and in 
danger of being cut off by the Master and ''cast into 
the fire." John 15: 6. But we ought, if we wish to 
glorify God instead of being barren, to *'bear much 
fruit." We shall, the Master says, if we "abide in 
him." Verse 5. 

It is a fact in nature (by which the Master illus- 
trates these great truths) that the most precious fruits 
in non-congenial climates need the most cultivating; 
are preyed upon the most by their natural enemies; 
are the hardest to raise; and as a consequence the 
most scarce, and therefore precious. So the Christian 
in this world is in a non-congenial climate — to bear 
such unnatural fruits as charity, etc. And it will be 
by constant watchfulness and frequent consultations 
with the greatest of Gardeners if we produce any of 
this fruit. The enemy's "natural fruit," like "natural 
fruit-trees," will grow in the wildwood; is most gen- 
erally very bitter to the taste, but the delicious fruit, 
what care is needed ! What farmer in the cold moun- 
tain region of New Hampshire does not know this? 
Its enendes are many from foes without to foes within, 
from borers to boys that keep the tree full of clubs, 
from untimely frosts to unrelenting gales. 

But, as for the Christian fruit, we look forward to 
the time when it will grow in the genial climate of the 
Father's kingdom, with nothing to molest. However, 
we are to keep up its growth as much as possible in 
this climate, for we are so admonished by the inspired 
writers. 



CHABITY. • 369 

Well, what about this fruit that is the "bond of 
perfectness" — charity? What is it? How is it 
best produced, and where? Charity is love. Not 
human love but Divine love, as shown us in God's 
Word. " While we were yet sinners He lo}^ed us." 
"He so fov^Jthe world that He gave His only begot- 
ten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not 
perish but have everlasting life." 

All through the Bible this stream of Divine love for 
prodigals flows, and from this fountain we get Divine 
charity, if we get it at all. It will never rise to any 
great height unless we get it there. Streams never 
rise higher than the fountain that feeds them. What 
an insipid affair is human charity, that sprouts within 
the scope of humanity! Divine love is a plant of 
Divine planting, Divine watering. Divine increase. 
Its blessed roots first fasten in the sacred soil of a new 
heart, in this body made a fit temple for the Holy 
Ghost to come in and water and care for. A plant 
bearing that name may sprout and drag out a feeble 
existence, but will never grow under any other circum- 
stances. 

Charity often rebukes in loving ways but never 
stones a criminal. Justice all through the Jewish age 
held supreme sway over a black-hearted and deserving 
race, but it remained for the " only-begotten Son " to 
lead charity to the front. 

But is not justice to be done? Certainly; and 
charity's very business is to see to that. It does not 
thwart justice, it equalizes it. It relieves the blow 
from the oppressed one who is no more guilty than 
his would-be-stoner. It is hardly known in human 
courts. It is passed by unrecognized by law. It 
never bribes. It never exaggerates or over-paints 
16* 



870 CKUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

guilt. It is the happiest truth-teller in all the world ; 
it really "rejoiceth in the truth." 1 Cor. 13: 6. 
Worcester, in his dictionary, has clearly spoken in 
unison with the inspired Paul in the thirteenth of 
Corinthians. He says it is " a disposition to put a 
favorable construction on the conduct or frailty of 
others." How unpharisaical ! 

God help us to exercise this trait more, for when 
faith is lost in sight, prophecy faileth, musical tongues 
cease, and knowledge of whi(5h heady folks boast shall 
vanish away; we fear many will feel a terrible empti- 
ness; lamps, but no oil. 



CHARITY. 

Chabity covereth the multitude of sins. — Peter. 

The church of God is like a large family of chil- 
dren of all ages. We regret to say it is too often in 
places like a family of old men, as there have been 
no births in the family for years. It should be like a 
family of small children, with but little difference in 
their ages. And will it not require much love to 
bring them up ? There will need to be fathers and 
mothers in Israel ; for Fleaven have mercy if the 
work is left to relations by marriage! How a 
father and mother ought to be filled with love and 
grace to bring up a family of small children in the 
" nurture and admonition of the Lord ! " Heaven 
have mercy on us for our shortcomings here, and 
grant grace to our day. None the less must the 
fathers and mothers in Israel be filled with love and 
grace for their work among converts and the church 
generally. 



CHABITY. 371 

In a large family of small child rea do sensible per- 
son can expect everything to be performed by them 
just so exact. They will leave the door open when it 
ought to be shut, and shut it when it ought to be left 
open ; and they will do many other things wrong 
about the house and garden because they do not 
understand the why and wherefore of everything. 
Well, a hireling would do nothing but scold them 
from morning until night, but father or mother will 
patiently instruct, and correct, and wipe away the 
tears, and overlook a multitude of these little things 
which look like sins to other folks. It takes a wise 
man to get along with such a family, and correct 
them when they need it — putting on "the rod" — 
and cover their multitude of sins with charity. He 
who undertakes to straighten every crook, and make 
every act and speech of a large family of children 
conform to persons of age, will keep himself in a fret 
all the time. He will need that charity that " cover- 
eth the multitude of sins." There will be enough 
left which merits correction then. 

Those who do not have but one to pet and palaver 
over, can make an old man of him before he gets into 
his teens ; and those churches who are not favored 
with more than one conversion in years, can attend 
to his case with much precision, seeing to it that he is 
" orthodox ; " but other churches which are fruitful 
will need to handle the lambs tenderly. They will let 
the flock out lo graze according to their will, thinking 
it better to run the risk of their being poisoned than 
to starve and perish tied up in the sectarian pen. 
Such lambs are always plump, sleek, nimble, and bear 
a good fleece. 

The Lord grant us Gospel wisdom to reprove, 



372 CRUMBS OF THE. BREAD OF LIFE. 

rebuke, exhort and correct, and heavenly love to 
cover the multitude of foibles. 



CHARITY IN PRACTICE. 

See the young archer bend his bow; how firm the 
wood is ! Yet it is almost bent double so that the 
ends meet; but alas! how quickly it snaps at last 
when pressed beyond endurance. So much can be 
said of the very best human love — the poorest is 
brittle indeed; it will bear much strain, more and 
more pressure, greater burdens, till at last it snaps 
asunder into many unkindnesses. 

But how ditferent is divine love! It "suffereth 
long and is kind." 1 Cor. 13 : 4. It is not brittle — 
it does not break. It cannot be bent to do or think 
evil; but it suffereth long under evil. Not that it 
forever holds its peace — it is outspoken against 
wrong doing; but it is "kind" about iit. Human 
love may suffer long and be ugly at last ; but divine 
love suffereth long, and then is kind. "Beareth all 
things" — how tenacious for right! " believeth all 
things" — what credence for truth! '*hopeth all 
things" — how sanguine for the oppressed! *' endur- 
eth all thinsjs" — how strong: for the weak and how 
thoughtless of self! "Charity never f aileth " — what 
an infinite fountain! how inexhaustible the supply! 
What a boundless, eternal ocean that comes rolling 
in, wave upon wave, at our feet! We embark here 
to paddle in a little bay; but when time is no more, 
and eternal scenes break to our view, then we sail 
into the open sea of Divine love, and go out of sight 
of the human landmarks. 



FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT — LOVE. 373 

Jesus was "fall of compassion." Why? because he 
had much Divine love. He pitied those whom others 
were free to condemn. And he did more than that — 
he gave them substantial help. If you cannot do as 
much as he did, you can pity; for that bursts forth 
from the never-failing spring of Divine love. This 
w^orld of imperfection is a great field to put pity into 
practice. "And above all things have fervent charity 
among yourselves : for charity shall cover the multi- 
tude of sins." 1 Pet. 4: 8. "Above all things." It 
is the most important grace to have then. And, 
while you are about it, have the fervent kind — love 
at white heat ; for that will bend the best — will 
stretch out the longest — sufier the longest. A pound 
of gold, it is said, can be spun into a wire that will 
reach round the world ; but fervent charity is more 
ductile than that and more plentiful — up above — 
than gold here below ; so you can spin a large wire. 



OIL FOR FRESH WOUNDS. 

The good Samaritan did the right thing to him 
that had been wounded by the thieves, by pouring in 
the healing mixture of oil and wine, and illustrated a 
great truth to Jesus' disciples and the world at large — 
how to settle, soothe and heal wounded spirits, quar- 
rels and disputes. There is nothing better for a fresh 
wound, cut, scald or burn, than something soothing 
first, then a healing mixture, and the sooner applied 
the better if the limb is to be saved and restored to 
its healthy condition; for if not applied immediately, 
outside influences — chilling winds — coupled with 
inward impurities of blood, may produce a terrific 



374 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

sore; proud flesh will follow, mortification set in, 
death of the member ensue, and amputation as a 
necessity must be resorted to. 

How many lives and limbs of flesh have been saved 
by prompt attention to these facts by good Samari- 
tans, nursing mothers and friends, and many more by 
stout resistance by men of great recuperative strength 
against the unnecessary haste of amputating surgeons. 
How many members of the body of Christ have been 
saved, and might be saved, by nursing fathers and 
mothers in Israel ! and many more by the patients 
themselves, by the wayside, out of reach of help, by 
nerving themselves to revive by such persistence as 
the im23otent man at the pool, who was at last healed 
by Jesus, though no one was found to put him into 
the pool when the waters were troubled. How many 
might be saved from being outcasts in society by 
solicitous sympathy from vitalizing members of the 
community ! 

When trouble with a member of the body of Christ 
commences with a little cut or bruise, pour in the oil ; 
and for turmoils of a larger type it is equally as effica- 
cious. The ocean gets terribly angry sometimes, and 
angry it will be in the absence of the " Peace be still " 
of Jesus, and to remedy the evil, to avert impending 
disaster, the mariners pour oil upon the seething bil- 
lows and they cower down as far as the oil reaches. 
We have read of a case where a ship weathered an 
unusually perilous voyage, by setting casks of oil 
alongside and making little apertures in them, so that 
oil enough might trickle out to keep down the anger 
of the sea around them the entire journey. This 
seems a good way indeed, and worthy of imitation 
by Christian mariners in a spiritual point of view. 



FKUITS OF THE SPIEIT — LOYE. 375 

Now all this jargon in life, this trouble in every 
department of life, is just going to be bushed up by 
the " peace be still " of the King of Peace one of 
these days. But in the intervening time, during the 
voyage of life, sectional strifes, disputes and disturb- 
ances will inevitably arise, and a system of surgery is 
always necessary in case of wounds and broken limbs. 
While amputation is in extreme cases necessary, we 
would limit its action as much as possible; at least 
until mortification, if not death, ensued, for taken in 
season there is no case of mutilation in the body of 
Christ that cannot be healed quickly, soundly, and so 
permanently, that locomotion will not be the least 
impeded. This is where the spiritual takes a rapid 
and wide stride from the natural or physical surgery, 
as also in many other points of Scripture analogy. 

There are many hopeless hurts in this physical life, 
and are pronounced as such as soon as a physician is 
summoned, and amputation must immediately take 
place, but there are none in the spiritual. It is well 
to summon the Great Physician's help as soon as any 
wound or break occurs, but you may rest assured he 
will not amputate until all other means have been 
exhausted. '' Him that cometh unto me I will in no 
wise cast out." A Savior indeed ! He wants to save 
everybody and everything that is worth saving from 
impending destruction, but he would rather you 
would lose an offending limb than that the whole 
body should perish. 

Well, brethren and sisters in the Lord, carry the 
oil and do not forget to use it. Paul, in his writings, 
pours it all along. We would not recommend this 
remedy for everything, as some of our patent medi- 
cine venders do, for it may be necessary for inward 



376 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

troubles in individuals, to apply something of a driv- 
ing or drawing nature, so that the manner of disease 
may be made manifest and kept away from the vitals. 
In extreme cases of long seated troubles it may be 
necessary to " blister " in the name of the Lord. Do 
you know how to do that ? It is done with " coals of 
fire." Rom. 12: 20. But for all injuries of a sudden 
kind to an otherwise healthy m( mber we should 
strongly recommend the first, as we have used it and 
know its efficacy and value. 

God help us to be a sound, healthy body, " perfect, 
entire, wanting nothing." No deformities of a spirit- 
ual nature at all, but made whole in the Lord. The 
system will admit of it if practiced. 



NOTHING WITHOUT CHARITY. 

" Ah ! I wish I could speak in public like Brother 
So-and-so ; then I should think I was a Christian. 
It is no effort for him ; the marrow of the Gospel 
pours from his mouth like a stream. How eloquent ! 
What fine sentences ! " 

Yes ; but you would be nothing without charity. 
The angels in Heaven are not distinguished for their 
oratory but for their charity — their love for God and 
for lost men. There is more joy among them over 
one sinner that repenteth than over ninety and nine 
Spurgeons that need no repentance. The most that 
we read about the angel Gabriel in the Bible is of 
his missions of service to God's people. 

" Then there is Brother A's knowledge. Why he 
solves the mysteries of the Bible as the sunbeams 



FKUITS OF THE SPIRIT — CHARITY. 377 

dispel darkness. The books of Daniel and Revela- 
tion are no more puzzling to him than the alphabet is 
to a child." 

Here is another coveted Gospel prize ; but it is 
nothing, without charity. 

" But there is Sister B's faith. Her prayer is more 
potent than the mandate of a king, and as good as a 
check on the bank. If I had such faith, and such a 
gift of prayer, I should think I was a Christian." 

Yes ; but without charity you would amount to just 
zero, in God's estimation. 

" But there is Brother C's devotion and self-denial. 
They say he would have been rich but for his alms- 
giving. What pains he takes to help the needy! 
Though he does not profess any great attainments in 
grace, he just about earns salvation on his own 
account." 

All very good ; but yet he may be without charity 
after all, as God reckons ; and, if so, he is nothing. 

Oh, the somethings in this world who are reckoned 
nothings up above; and the nothings here who are 
counted somethings up there ! You know we look 
at the themometer to see how cold or hot the weather 
is. Just so God looks with an anxious eye at our 
charity to see how good Christians we are. It would 
probably amaze us to look on God's balance-sheet. 
But we can anticipate the result by studying up. 1 
Cor. 13. 

Charity is the quintessence of Christianity, but it 
never was popular. Why ? It is the death-knell of 
" the old man " — the tomb-stone of carnality. 
When a man is dead to the world he is alive unto 
God; and that man charity will come to maturity in. 

Charity is nothing less than *'the love of God 



378 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

shed abroad in the heart " ; and I wish to dwell upon 
and emphasize the shed abroad part of the statement 
— spread all over the heart into every nook and cor- 
ner, with an unsparing hand. 

Would you know what charity is? Study the 
character of God in His dealings with this lost world 
from Eden down, and especially consider the mission 
of His beloved Son. We have not time nor space to 
run over it here. Take your Bible and do it your- 
self. People have been studying charity as exhibited 
in Brother A and Sister B ; that is the trouble. 
" Ought not they to show it forth ? Of course ; but 
they are only earthen vessels : smoked glass, like you 
and me. If you want to see things in their own 
light, with Paul "I commend you to God, and to the 
Word of His grace, which is able to build you up, 
and to give you an inheritance among all them which 
are sanctified." 

We are apt to dwell on the shell of the Gospel and 
throw away the kernal. When everything else is 
worn threadbare, charity wears like steel. Human 
nature snaps like pipe-stems, but the Divine nature, 
of which charity is the manifestation, "suffereth 
long " — stands under pressure. 

Perfect thy saints are said to be, 
Breathe into us thy love, O Lord ! 

Then shall we not offend in word. 
But ever live thy face to see. 



CHARITF. 379 

GIVING. 

Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would 
borrow of thee turn not thou away. — Matt. 5: 42. 

These are the Master's words, and in this day of 
traraps, many of whom are unworthy of charity, they 
claim some attention. Is the above an arbitrary rule 
which must be carried out to the letter, irrespective 
of the character or motives of the claimant of our 
charities, or those who would borrow of us? We say 
NO most emphatically, and shall, we think, submit 
sound Scriptural proof for so doing. 

(1) It is worthy of note that the Master's preaching 
consisted in the laying down of general rules and 
principles, and that His apostles, specially endued 
with the power of the Holy Ghost, were entrusted 
with their exposition. 

(2) "Giving to him that asketh" pre-supposes that 
the supplicant asks with the proper motives for the 
use of that which is sought. How do you know? 
Because it is the unvarying rule of God's government 
in dealing with us who ask of Him ; and it cannot be 
required of us to exceed in practice this precept and 
example of the Infinite. He very much wants us to 
come up to His standard and has so admonished ; but 
if we carry out to the letter of this text always, 
regardless of who it is that asks, or with what motive 
he asks, we shall pervert God's rule. " Well," says 
the listener, " does not God give to everybody that 
asks? His Son said, 'Ask, and ye shall receive.' 'He 
that asketh receiveth.' " This statement or promise 
of the Savior is of the same class as our text. It is 
a general principle pre-supposing the conditions of 
asking. James says, " Ye ask and receive not, because 



380 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

ye ask amiss^ that ye may consume it upon your 
lusts" (or pleasures, margin). Now take this expla- 
nation by James and put it with the text, and you 
have got a never-failing rule by which to give, pro- 
vided you know sufficiently well the motives of the 
asker. 

As God knows all about those who ask of Him, 
there is no danger of His making mistakes. Not 
so with us ; but we claim that it is our Scriptural 
privilege to be well satisfied in regard to what is to 
become of our money before it is given in charity. If 
the person is suffering, and you know it, that is evi- 
dence enough of their need ; but give no credence to 
the pitiful tales of strangers. Many of them can weep 
like a crocodile, and tell the most pitiful story imagin- 
able of their privations, and in fifteen minutes after 
receiving your money will pour what it brings in rum 
or beer down their throats. Away with this promis- 
cuous milk-and-water charity. "Oh," you say, "you 
must give to him that asketh," and away goes your 
money to " Tom, Dick and Harry," for rum, tobacco, 
pleasure, and you know not what, while that poor 
widow a few blocks ojSf, with a modesty and long-suf- 
fering becoming a seraph, asks not and you give not. 
Her suffering might brin<^ tears from the angels of 
God. Ah ! they see such cases, and they whisper in 
the ears of God's people all about them. Oh, then 
shut not up the "bowels of compassion," "Give to 
him that asketh, *' and lend too, hoping not to receive 
again. 

You would think it a great honor to lend the Presi- 
dent something, yes, most anything he might wish ; 
and you would not trouble yourself about its return. 
"Oh," you would say, "the President has got it; he 



CHARITY. 381 

would not disgrace his country and his name to cheat 
it out of me." Well, the Lord Jesus wants to borrow 
of you for some of His poor disciples. He borrowed 
Peter's boat to preach in once. Did not He pay well 
for its use? '* I should love to own a colt to loan the 
Lord to ride into Jerusalem with," say you. Well, 
lend it to His disciples ; it is all in the family. "He 
that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord." It is 
more blessed to give [in the Lord] than to receive." 



382 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE, 



CHAPTER XIII. 



SENT. 



There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 
Johnl: 6. 

Then there was one man sent from God, no matter 
how many have turned out crooked since. How 
refreshingly that sentence rings in the ears of the 
spiritually minded in these days, " There was a man 
sent from God ; " when one man chooses the profes- 
sion of a minister with as little eternal concern as 
another chooses to be a horse doctor; or when some 
hopeful and enterprising father, with more wealth 
than Divine wisdom, talks about making this son a 
doctor, that one a lawyer, and another, who does not 
seem to be brilliant enough for anything else, a min- 
ister! God, the creator, is not consulted any more 
about making a minister, than ^sculapius is about 
making a doctor, by many nowadays. 

" There was a man sent from God." Then he was 
a man. Some seem to think that a man should not 
attempt to instruct his fellow-men concerning Divine 
revelation ; no one but an angel or a god should 
undertake such an errand as that. And just because 
a man feels the Word like fire shut up in his bones, 
and begins to proclaim it with the manifest authority 
that the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven above 
can give, there will always be those who will inquire, 
" Is not this the carpenter's son ? Are not his broth- 



PKEACHERS AND PREACHING. 383 

ers and sisters with us?" A person should be with- 
out human pedigree, in order to convince some of the 
Divine origin of his message. " But we have this 
treasure in earthern vessels, that the excellency of the 
power may be of God, and not of us," Paul could say. 
And to others it must be all human, in order to suit 
them — with the swor of the college, and how much 
we know — all through it. 

But God can get great glory to His name some- 
times, through the instrumentaUty of a man, perhaps 
a poor man, an unlearned man — an honest man 
anyway. 

Who should be sent to man except a man ? Were 
God to come down from His throne and walk among 
us, inquiring "Where art thou?" we would all be 
frightened into hiding, and would scarcely be per- 
suaded to face such light and holiness ; but He 
cleanses a man, qualifies a man, and sends him dove- 
like, wooingly, after lost man, to call him to ways of 
righteousness ; and he crawls out of his hiding-place 
when he finds it is a man after him. Then he will 
hear his story of God, and be penetrated by the light 
and truth. Oh, to be a man after all ; a converted 
man, radiant with holy love ; humble man, seeking 
after lost man — not trying to make it appear that we 
are a second-rate God. 

" Elijah was a man of like passions as we are," but 
what a mighty man under God was he. See that 
parched ground out there, not a vestige of greenness 
about it ! See that cloud, as the size of a man's hand, 
coming up over yonder horizon ! Hear the pattering 
rain now, refreshing the earth ! Elijah's prayers are 
back of all that. 

" Sent from Godr John did not take it into his 



384 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

own head to go, as too many do in these days. " How 
can tliey preach except they be sent." They will 
preach human wisdom, tossmg it off elegantly, with 
bewitching cadences, and symmetrical flt^rishes, 
unless God be with them. How will they preach if 
God sends them ? They will preach the preaching 
that He bids them. They will be more in earnest to 
find out what His Word says, than what this d.d., 
that A.M., or the other l.l.d., says. And they will 
begin with the Holy Book and rattle off the Divine 
music, regardless of the "stops" and "rests" that 
have been interspersed by sectarian songsters. The 
man sent from God recognizes the fact that One is his 
master, even Christ, and all the rest are brethren. 
And the brethren had better keep their fingers off him. 
Are you sent of God, readers ? If so, He has made 
you " able ministers," able to do His bidding, able to 
tell the truth and stick to it ; but perhaps not able to 
lie and not get cornered, for it takes a shrewd fellow 
with much learning to do that. The strain on the 
system is greater, therefore it is worth more, some 
think, to lie for the Devil than it is to tell God's plain 
truth. Well, let them have the wages of sin, and we 
will take the gift of God — eternal life, through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. 



SAUL COMMISSIONED TO PREACH THE 
GOSPEL.— ACTS 26. 

As a ma^^-made servant of God, Saul did " many 
things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth, 
having received authority and commission from the 



PREACHERS AND PREACHING. 385 

chief priests." In this respect he was no different 
from others of the same stamp in our day, with the 
exception of his greater zeal and ability. Whoever 
receives no higher authority and commission as a ser- 
vant of God than that of man, will be liable to do 
uiany things contrary to the Gospel plan, and perhaps 
be as zealous and honest in it as was Saul. Saul is to 
be commended for his disposition to work at what he 
thought was of God. The great trouble with him 
was, as it is with many others, he was mistaken as to 
who had charge of God's work ; he needed a power- 
ful introduction and deep acquaintance with that 
meek and lowly One, whom God had been well 
pleased to place at the head of the Church, and 
whom he thought was dead. 

Well, in process of time, on the way to Damascus, 
he got just such an introduction, which ripened into 
a grand acquaintance. Jesus introduced Himself in 
a convincing manner, as He is capable of doing to 
this day. Said He to Saul, as he lay prostrate before 
Him, 

I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee 
a minister and a witness both of those things which thou 
hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear 
unto thee. 

Jesus was now going to make him a minister ; and 

His make are all that are fit to do His work. How 

foolish to hear a doting father say he is going to 

make his son a minister ! How silly to hear a young 

man say he is going to prepare himself for a minister 

by a mere collegiate course ! How sad to think chief 

priests or elders of any epoch in the Church's history 

pretend to make servants of God. Jesus makes His 

own ministers. 
17 



386 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE, 

I apprehend that He takes material into account in 
the manufacture of ministers, as well as mechanics do 
when they make anything. He saw sterling qualities 
in Saul of Tarsus, which were being spoiled under 
the manipulation of the chief priests. And I would 
not wonder if He saw the same in many men in simi- 
lar circumstances today, and appears to them for the 
same purpose. May they with Saul be " not disobe- 
dient unto the heavenly vision." 

Saul was an honest man even while he was perse- 
cuting the church of Jesus, if we will believe his own 
story. Said he, ^'I did it ignorantly in unbelief." 
And unto the chief priests he said, " I lived in all 
good conscience before God until this day." He had 
acted up to all the light he had, and now that he 
had received further light, and had been shown his 
errors and new truth, he must turn his back on his 
disobedient associates, the chief priests. He was 
honest, but they were dishonest, because they knew 
better than they were doing. Would God that all 
were as honest, loyal and bold for th e truth and ser- 
vice of God as was Saul of Tarsus, the destroyer of 
what he thought was wrong, and who afterward 
became Paul, the builde r upon the foundation which 
Jesus revealed to him as right. He had " lived in all 
good conscience before God until that day," but 
could he so continue and reject new light upon the 
sacred page? Nay, verily. Neither can any other 
servant of God. Beware then of your responsibility 
to the Word of God, under the leadings of that 
Spirit which was to '^ guide you into all truth and 
show you things to come," ye servants of God that 
wish to do His pleasure. 

Not only did Jesus appear to Saul to " make him a 



PEEACHERS AND PEEACHING. 387 

minister," but '' a witness " both of the things which 
he had seen and those things which should be re- 
vealed further on. Now a witness has a solemn obli- 
gation to fulfill. He must tell the truth regardless of 
judge, jury or people ; and he must tell nothing but 
what he knows. He need not give accounts of what 
he has found out in rambling through musty books ; 
his private opinions, " the traditions of the elders," 
" old wives' fables " and poetical dreams. He is 
required to tell what he has seen. What a man has 
seen with his own eyes, and tells with tenacious 
adherance to truth, will carry conviction with it 
when traditions will fail. Thus Paul succeeded as a 
minister and witness of Jesus. Let others stand 
upon the truth, having the powerful weapon of per- 
sonal experience. Christ "will appear unto thee" 
by His Spirit, as unto Paul, giving you vivid views 
of His truth, so that the repetition of the notions of 
unsent philosophers and poets will be no longer nec- 
essary. " Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord." 
Then be careful to tell what you have found out to 
be God's truth, and not what you have heard that 
some one else has said. 

" Delivering thee from the people." This was an 
important clause in Saul's commission. He was 
delivered before he started. That was the right way. 
When they get bound down to the dictations of the 
deacons and people, and tangled up in secret orders, 
and mixed up in fairs, festivals and many other kinds 
of deviltry of modern times, who can deliver them ? 
What can such preaching amount to ? It is not the 
voice of God, but the voice of the people. Let the 
minister of Jesus get his passport made out before he 



388 CRUMBS OF ^HE BKEAD OF LIFE. 

Starts, and if anybody lays hands on him, let him 
show it, and also keep it untarnished. 

To opeD their eyes and turn them from darkness to light 
and from the power of Satan unto God. 

This Saul was directed to do by the aid of the 
Lord. But they are sent out now having a popular 
theology to shut their eyes from beholding the truth. 
They are too much afraid that the light will hurt 
their eyes. A miserably weak-eyed Christianity have 
we in these days. They need to strip off the colored 
glasses of current theology, and look at God's truth 
in Gospel daylight. At best we only can now '* see 
through a glass darkly " for heaven's sake let us see 
that much "to open their eyes"; but get your own 
open first. A young convert ought at least to be 
looking right at Bible truth, with eyes wide open, by 
the time he is eight days old. However, I do not 
approve of this pulling the eyes open with theologi- 
cal fingers. Let the eyes open of their own accord, 
by proper age and internal forces. 

"From the power of Satan unto God." Many 
people are sentimentally converted and added to the 
church-book now, but they are in Satan's power. 
The Devil has no objection to a person's being coated 
over with pious whitewash; it helps the work of 
counterfeiting all the more to wash the brass over 
with gold. Let the church at large get on heaven- 
required dignity, and in solemn vow declare indepen- 
dence from Satan's jDOwer in all its forms, and 
instead of such blissful satanic peace as reigns in and 
around the church of God, you would hear the howl 
of the Devil outside. Men with much unction can 
tell who is under the power of Satan, and who is 



PREACHERS AND PREACHING. 389 

under the power of God. It makes a vast difference 
what of all the things of these last days you denomi- 
nate Satan. Be wise here. "By their fruits ye shall 
know them." Watch for the fruit, and do not be 
carried away with the beauty of the tree. Whoever 
has inheritance among them which are sanctified 
must be " turned from the power of Satan unto 
God " and " kept by the power of God through faith 
unto salvation," 



EARS TO HEAR. 

He that hath ears to hear let him hear. Luke 8 : 8. 

There is about as much said in the New Testament 
in regard to hearing the Gospel as there is about 
preaching it. Examine it carefully with this thought 
in your mind and see if it is not so. Take a refer- 
ence Bible and trace out the references from the 
above text, and all other texts on the subject, and you 
may be surprised. Lungs to preach is all that con- 
cerns some folks ; but ears to hear was a subject of 
concern to the Savior of the world. There has been 
many a preacher, who, on rising to preach, asked the 
prayers of the brethren and sisters for himself that he 
might preach powerfully; but a good preacher is apt 
to do his own praying before pulpit time, and to be 
more concerned then about the uncircumcised ears of 
his congregation. Let the hearer as well as the 
preacher be remembered in your prayers. All that 
some people want is to see and hear some great gun 
fired off, never thinking whether it is going to hit 
anything or not. Look at the mark as well as at the 



390 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

gun, aii'l question in your mind if the thing is not 
pointed too high. 

One blncksinith is as good as another if you are 
going to forge cold iron. Will that big fellow with 
the sinewy arm hammer heat into it? No, I would 
rather have that pale, tiiin, weak-looking man, if he 
can have the iron at a white heat to work on. 

It is not by might, nor by power, but it is by my spirit, 
saith the Lord. 

Hammer away on cold iron and hear the sound of 
your own anvil if you wish to; but it will take the 
Spirit of God to mold a saint out of a sinner, with 
the right temper left in him after the job is done. 

*'Ears to hear" — what? The silent but pungent 
talk of God as sent home by the Holy Spirit. The 
chattering of men may go into one natural ear and 
out of the other — some of it ought to; but there is 
another drum connected with your hearing — an inner 
consciousness — which no one but God can touch. 
Beware, when your heart is touched, what course you 
take. When God speaks hear as for your life. And 
when you have heard and turned to God it wiU 
require about as much unction to walk with Him and 
continue to hear, as it will to preach. 

He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear 
them not, because ye are not of God. John 8 : 47. Why do 
ye not understand my speech ? Even because ye cannot 
hear my word. John 8: 43. My sheep hear my voice, and 
I know them, and they follow me. John 10: 27. 



PREACHEES AND PREACHING. 391 

SOWING THE SEED. 

- Do not get to doting so much on one effort, 
brother, that you will feel like giving up all if it 
should fail. Take lessons of old mother nature. Get 
out on the hillside in the balmy breeze, and see that 
red maple sow the seed; there will be ten thousand 
sown to one that ever germinates. See the thistle- 
down travel also. The atmosphere is just loaded 
with good and bad germs — germs of disease and 
seeds of life and health. Who can tell his hair- 
breadth escapes from disease germs? Does he always 
know just what to attribute his sickness to, or what 
balm to credit with his health ? That farmer may be 
need not put in half that seed, but he dare not put in 
less, as he does not know which contains the life 
germ. In every department of nature there appears 
to be an over-seeding; but in reality it is a precau- 
tion, or making sure of a harvest. 

Then just see the enemy sow his seed. Death- 
dealing literature is daily thrown in at every door, or 
handed you on the street with an announcement 
where you can get more. If that boy of yours does 
not get poisoned by it, it will be because his warm 
heart has been filled up with something better. 
Every public conveyance is loaded with the stuff, and 
the only way to antidote it is to put in a measure of 
GosjDel equal to the occasion. You cannot stop that 
bad stuff, but you can send the Gospel. 

*' Sow beside all waters. Blessed are ye that do 
so." — Is;i. 32: 20. It is the only way to get a satis- 
factory crop. You may think you know what seed 
contains a germ so as to bestow much pains upon it ; 
but you do not. " You know not which will prosper, 



392 CRUIMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

whether this or that." Likely as not it will be that 
upon which you bestowed the least labor, thought, 
and anxiety. Perhaps you have just laid yonr plans 
to capture that wealthy and influential unbeliever 
who attends your church ; you have spent the mid- 
night oil over it ; you have analyzed the seed in the 
light of Greek and Latin, and soaked it in everything 
— except your tears. And then it is found, when he 
is converted, that it was not your effort at all that did 
the work; it was the plaintive pleas and godly living 
of that old woman on the Amen bench, whose testi- 
mony has ever been a thorn to you^ and a lily to the 
said unbeliever. Goliath of Gath did not come down 
with Saul's spears, javelins or darts; it was David's 
smooth stone from the brook, flying like lightning, 
that brought the crack of doom to the giant's cra- 
nium. 

Sow the Gospel seed everywhere. Sow bountifully, 
" He who soweth sparingly shall also reap sparingly." 
2 Cor. 9 : 6. The harvest day will tell the story. 



PLAIN THINGS. 

The pulpit has had so many auxiliaries of late 
years to interest people — so much chalk in the hands 
of some deft sketcher (and sometimes in the hands of 
others who are not so deft but who must do it 
because the other fellow does) ; so many square yards 
of painting and charts — and so few square inches of 
real, old-fashioned, simple, plain, hard facts, of Floly 
Ghost preaching; so many pulpit "prodiges and star 
preachers and so many evangelists who cannot seem 



PREACHERS AND PREACHING. 393 

to get along without a star singer to help them out, 
that the prospect looks decidedly blue to an ordinary- 
fellow, who has nothing to lean upon exc^^pt the 
Everlasting Arm, which delivered him from sin, 
"from the people and from the Gentiles," unto whom 
he is now sent ; and has nothing to take on his j our- 
ney except the sword of the Spirit which is the 
Word of God ; if it was not for one fact^ and that 
is : God always honors the servant whom He has 
called to do a great work, when he goes trusting in 
Him to signalize His approval of the effort by the 
manifestation of His wondrous grace and power. 
The simple, smooth stone from the brook hurled from 
the sling in the hands of that lad whom God chooses 
to honor, is what lays the giant low. 

He who trusts in the cumbrous attachments and 
fixings which men's ingenuity has devised as a substi- 
tute to make up for the lack of the wonder-working 
power of God, will have the priviledge of leaving 
the battle field in dismay ; while the giant of sin 
stalks forth unscared. Piling heavy armor on to a 
man does not make up for inward weakness. If God 
sends a shepherd boy on the mighty errand of saving 
souls, He probably wants to sanctify the wisdom 
which He has seen in that fellow in rescuing lambs 
and sick sheep from ditches, gulfs and cliffs, and in 
keeping the wolves off the rest of the flock, to the 
grander work of rescuing perishing men and women, 
and in guiding the " flock of God." And he need 
not stop to confer with flesh and blood about it either. 
God knows who He is after and who He is choosing. 
Sandpaper and shellac will improve a white oak axe 
helve, but it will not change a pine one into white 
oak. There has many a pine stick man been in the 
17* 



394 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

Iiands of tutors and governors to make a preacher of 
and when they get through with all their scraping, 
sandpapering and varnishing it is a pine stick still, as 
pretty as a pine axe helve would be to chop butter in 
July with, but of no account for what it was intended 
— for cutting and splitting up the hard knots of sin. 

If God calls a blacksmith to this work He will 
show hira another hammer and another anvil upon 
which to hammer hearts into shape for the service of 
God. Whoever God calls — and did He not take the 
twelve Apostles from various walks in life ? — let 
them not undertake to be what they are not ; swap 
previous occupations with somebody else, trade off 
their individuality for that of some one else. It is no 
disgrace for hard hands — made hard by honest labor 
through the week — to have hold of the Bible on a 
plush covered pulpit on Sunday. It is a mighty dis- 
grace to a church, to let some soft-handed devil 
handle the Word of God for them. Did you know 
that God delights to honor all His humble servants, 
and that blessings and conversions follow their labor 
and that it comes just as naturally as sunshine and 
rain? But that "He beholdeth the proud afar off." 
Look the matter up. When a man runs down the 
hill of conceit to the level where God wants him ; 
and in downright honesty and sincerity, and trusts for 
Divine help, seeks to do his Master's will, he will 
accomplish that which will be of everlasting account. 
If it had taken as long to get the twelve Apostles in 
fighting trim as it does now to turn out the average 
soft-handed and hard-hearted preacher from the fac- 
tory, I reckon Christ would hardly have accomplished 
the grand mission that He did in three years. 

Somehow or other God has a faculty of taking a 



PEEACHEKS AND PREACHING. 395 

man — a full-grown man — right out of the market 
place, or the receipt of custom, or the fishing-boat — 
when he had no idea of ever preaching, no preacher 
being in the family! and so wondrously molding 
him ov^r and covering him with grace, teaching him 
with Divine truth and tilling him with Divine sense 
that he accomplishes wonders. I think that we had 
better let God do it right along. And let the person 
whom he has so called leave those humanly gotten up 
stilts at home. 

To the people these broken sentences are penned. 
They are largely to blame for the sort of preachers 
and practices they often boost on to the platform. 
They clamor for a king and God gives them one in 
wrath. Let us get back and inquire for the old paths, 
brethren ; for the good old way. Not that there are 
not "helps" which can be used of God to His glory 
in their proper sphere; but it is high time that the 
pulpit lil<e the "ark of the testimony" come back 
from the Philistines; and that it become the dwelling 
place of the simple, plain testimony of Christ — the 
solid facts of the Gospel, divested of the words of 
human wisdom, and filled with the Spirit of power. 
Who will dispense with surface water, and sink the 
shaft of power and experience down where the living 
waters flow ? 



A BAD SPIRIT. 

Notwithstanding the fact that the Apostle John 
has advised them to "try the spirits" — which, of 
course, means a fair, unprejudiced, just decision 
whether what the man says is true^ and his disposition 



ITJMBS OI 



lEAD OF LIFE. 



and purpose right — there are a plenty of good people 
who declare at once — when a preacher (or writer) 
" reproves " or " rebukes " " shnrply " '' with all 
authority," as Paul charges him to do — that he shows 
" a bad spirit," and they do this, not for just reasons ; 
but because somebody's feelings are hurt by the truth 
he tells. There are some verdant souls who seem to 
think that the Lord's work can all be done with 
feather dusters, putty and palaver. They want every- 
thing to run along smoothly and quietly, which is a 
laudable wish, provided it can so go along rightly; 
but that is not always the case in this world. The 
rats and mice in the cheese are great fellows for peace 
and quietness, and no doubt could they speak they 
would say the good housewife shows a bad spirit 
when she charges upon them with the broomstick, or 
even sets traps to catch them. 

If everything went along as it should in this world 
— as it vnll in the next — what a vast amount of 
anxiety and labor it would save us,. to say nothing of 
our increased happiness! But then as it does not go 
so, we suppose many who are advocates for the right, 
will be branded as bad, because they interfere with 
the wrong. It seems bad to the boy to have the 
cruel forceps crowded down to the roots of the 
decayed tooth, but sometimes it must be done. It 
was bad for the silver-god makers of Paul's day to 
have him there converting the people "to serve the 
living and true God, and to wait for His Son from 
Heaven." In fact, almost anywhere, a live man who 
has an eye on justice and equity, and pushes his con- 
victions into the world, will likely run against some- 
body's interests, who will call him "a bad fellow," 
" turning the world upside down." 



PREACHERS AND PREACHING. 397 

The Pharisees of Christ's day were a very pious- 
appearing people. They attended to externals in 
religion with a very scrupulous eye. Perhaps no one 
could say that they did not manifest a good spirit. 
They had a very slick way of keeping up a sancti- 
monious appearance, and a simple-minded person 
might set them down as the veriest saints; but there 
was One around then who could see beyond all of 
their gloss. No doubt they thought Jesus showed a 
very bad spirit in his sermon to them as recorded in 
Matthew 23, and also when he drove them out of the 
temple — decidedly bad — for them. It is not pleas- 
ant to be called a hypocrite anyway, especially if you 
are one; but "present truth" is that which best fits 
the present need of an individual or people. If a man 
says he is established in the dispensational truth, and 
yet is indulging the flesh, he needs some truth which 
is a little more present; but somebody will be charged 
with " a bad spirit" if they give it to him. 

" Try the spirits," says John ; and wo know of noth- 
ing better to try them by as a standard than the 
Word of God. That Word is described in itself, as 

A fire; [and] as a hammer that breaketh the rock in 
pieces ; [as] quick and powerful and sharper than any two- 
edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul 
and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner 
of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

And the servant of God is charged to preach ihat 
Word; to be "instant in season, and out of season; 
reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all long-suffering 
and doctrine." Like John the Baptist, some men 
more than others may be called to straighten the 
highway of the Lord; living independent of the syna- 
gogue, on what the Lord provides. These are the 



398 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

men who shrink not from rebuking either sin or error, 
whether in ruler or subject, high or low. Would God 
they were more numerous just now. 

Fond of honor, praise and pleasure, there is too 
much of a tendency for the professed servants of God 
to spend their precious, God-given time in catering to 
the wishes of the people. Quite a temptation to the 
flesh, it is to a man, to spread out a meal that so many 
will devour with so much gusto, and praise and flatter 
him who gets it up, regardless of the fact that their 
real needs could have been better served w^ith some- 
thing not quite so much to their present relish. The 
disciples turned away from Jesus saying, " This is a 
hard saying, who cin bear it? " But the Lord would 
not then let people have their own way and say. 
Does he now? How does he carry on his work 
except through servants? We are told in Sacred 
Writ "not to despise the chastening of the Lord, nor 
faint when we are rebuked of him." How shall the 
Lord rebuke us except through his true servants ? 
Do not grow faint when deservedly rebuked. 

Again we say, " Try the spirits." Do not be in 
such haste to believe some spirits to be bad, if they 
do rebuke "spiritual wickedness in high places," or 
honestly intended, though unwise, and improper 
measures of men. Watch them. Compare what you 
would call " the bad spirit," with the daily life. Some 
men, by the circumstances, are made to seem worse to 
you outside, than they really are inside — a very 
excusable f^ult in these days of shams. For our own 
choice we prefer a man with a good, honest, open, 
guileless heart — and that is shown by his daily walk 
— even if he is given to rebuking us, to one who is 
always pleased with everything that is going on, and 



PREACHERS AND PREACHING. 399 

unsound — perhaps roUen-hearled — at that. The 
righteous, being ''bold as a lion," have never been 
noted for their subserviency to men-pleasing policy. 
They have always been in the habit of treading along 
over the tendernesses of secret sinners with as much 
weight of step as with the open-handed. 

Those who mean to do right at all costs are never 
discomfited with criticisms or rebukes. If they 
deserve it, they own it ; if not, they let it slip over 
their heads to somebody else; though here they are 
at a disadvantage, because sometimes those who do 
deserve it, find the easiest way to escape confessing it 
to be, to let it slip over them and say nothing. 

Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an 
enemy are deceitful. 

In order to find out our best friends — who love us 
best — we should "summer and winter them." Do 
not be displeased with the man who saves you from 
dangers and deceits, though, as you think rudely^ he 
has been obliged to do it. 



SMARTNESS. 

Is he smart? He is smart. That settles everything 
nowadays with many, the new minister included. 
Smartness is the sum total of perfection and answer- 
eth all things to many minds, in a minister or relig- 
ious worker, or anybody else. Many people have 
about as exalted an idea of the work of the Gospel 
which seals people for eternal judgment, as they have 
of selling Yankee notions from an auction block; and 



400 CKUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

be who can make his tongue rattle the fastest, inter- 
spersing it frequently with expressions that partake of 
the character of low comedy, is the best fellow. It is 
the fulfillment of the words of Paul, 

For the time will come when they will not endure sound 
doctrine ; but after their own lusts shall they heap to them- 
selves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn 
away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto 
fables. 2 Tim. 4: 3,4. 

God's solemn eternal message is not wanted now, 
generally speaking. They can't keep on in their own 
evil ways and "endure" it with any more comfort 
than a burglar when about to break into a house, can 
endure the warning bark of a faithful dog. He who 
speaks out against church adulterers and adulteresses 
need not be surprised to learn that some high-toned 
person who is guilty (perhaps the leader of the sewing 
circle) is offended at him, and is intriguing against 
him. Church gambling is also another of the many 
tender spots to touch. 

But give it to the rum-sellers, as none of them 
attend " our church " ; but put their money into the 
Catholic coffer. 

Yet above all, alluding to the signs of the times, 
referring to the present as the last days, and reining 
folks up to the judgment, and the immediate "danger 
of hell-fire " ; depreciating bank stock, and appreciat- 
ing heavenly treasures in the light of last day moth, 
rust, and canker, is particularly distressing. In short, 
*' sound doctrine" — ^^ every word which proceedeth 
out of the mouth of God" — solid, spiritual, health- 
giving food is not wanted; but spice, spice^ spice is 
the thing in these days. And the fellow who is pre- 
pared to please the ear that itches, who can anticipate 



PREACHERS AND PREACHING. 401 

and give what folks laant to hear, regardless of what 
they ought to hear, is a genius abreast of the age. 
Anything well-spiced will go. 

But it will transpire one of these days that goodness 
occupies a place in God's mind, and that faith in His 
Word, and obedience to it, have something to do with 
that goodness. It is all right to be smart, but it is a 
deal better to be on the Lord's side, even if you are 
not as kinky as somebody else. It is a good thing to 
be accounted an able man, but it is better for you to 
know that your name is written in Heaven. The 
Devil's clutch is on many an able man, and it will 
take the ability which God giveth to make him let go. 
" Who is on the Lord's side ? " That old question 
you and I, brother, have got to answer some day by 
our personal presence. No fine drawn sentiment will 
do in that day; you will have to take your place 
where you belong. Then, may be, the fellow who has 
always had the idea of smartness uppermost in his 
mind, will get his cup full of it. And they who have 
considered the goodness of God, and been led to 
repent and serve Him with godly fear, may rejoice in 
His everlasting presence, and with the good of all 
aojes. 



STOPPING MOUTHS. 

\vnose mouths must be stopped.— St. Peter. 

That is a wise and noble provision in the constitu- 
tion of this Government which enacts that: "Con- 
gress shall make no law abridging the freedom of 
speech, or of the press." Notwithstanding freedom 



402 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

of speech and the press is abused by some evil per- 
sons, yet much of the political health and wealth of 
this exalted Nation, is the result of that limitation of 
Congressional power, and their continuance depends 
upon the continued existance and enforcement of 
that liberty-preserving, honesty-enforcing clause in 
its code of laws. 

Many officials who are placed in power by the 
people, for fear of the people's voice and the power 
of the press, walk pretty uprightly, when they might 
otherwise have a corrupt tendency. I suppose occa- 
sionally some one who is comparatively innocent and 
quite straight and upright in the discharge of his 
duties gets an undeserved rebuke ; but it is more for 
the general safety to err on that side, than on that 
of laxity in the public condemnation of crookedness. 
The innocent man will be vindicated as well as the 
rogue will be exposed. Indeed, the just man — the 
sincere man — the man who puts his work together 
with perfect joints — " without wax " — has no cause 
to complain when the light is turned on ; for what to 
another proves speedy condemnation to him is justi- 
fication in the long run. 

If this is a good plank to be incorporated into a 
political government, it must needs be in an ecclesias- 
tical government. And such we believe to be the 
spirit of the New Testament. Nevertheless, Paul in 
his day said that there were 

many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially of 
the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who 
subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought 
not, for filthy lucre's sake. Titus 1: 10, 11. 

Well how shall their mouths be stopped? By 
threats of a Papal bull of excommunication ? That 



PREACHERS AND PREACHING. 403 

is the way many sects essay to do it now who have 
climbed the ladder of denominational exaltation and 
have taken to themselves their great power and have 
reigned. But the great Apostle to the Gentiles, as 
much as he desired that the mouths of these men 
should be stopped and said it must be done, showed 
us a more excellent way to do it. Commence at the 
fifth verse of this same chapter of Titus, and read 
on, and you will see. It was by ordaining elders in 
every city, such as were *' blameless "" husbands of 
one wife," " having faithful chiMren not accused of 
riot or unruly;" " stewards of God; not self willed, 
not soon angry, not given to wine, no Strieker, not 
given to filthy lucre ; lovers of hospitality, lovers of 
good men [or things] sober, just, holy, temperate; 
holding fast the faithful Word [not merely some- 
body's sectarian notions, man concocted creeds, con- 
fessions, declarations, etc.] as they have been taught 
[or, in teaching, marg.] that they may be able to" 

what? Squelch these fellows with the iron 

rod of onr superior power ? Not that. " That they 
may be oMe [qualified] by sound doctrine^ both to 
exhort and to convince the gainsayersT 

In other words these mouths must be stopped by 
the superior teaching of better men ; by turning on 
the light. Their mouths must be stopped by teach- 
ing their hearers better things so that they will not 
want the wares of the gainsayers. In short, the 
gain say er himself may be convinced and converted 
by being kindly shown his error and the truth ; but 
if not, then stop the DeviVs patronage by dealing in 
better things. 



404 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

SUPPRESSING TRUTH. 

Some people seem to think that yelling " Great is 
Diana of the Ephesians " for the space of two hours 
will wear for an argument, but there are others who 
discover that it soon gets threadbare. Some think 
that thumbscrews, racks, faggots, boycotts, hooting 
and howling will stop the promulgation of truth, but 
a greater mistake was never entertained. Commenc- 
ing at the beginning of the Bible to read it through, 
we early find out that the Almighty is in favor of 
light, and it would save humanity a deal of anxiety 
and perplexity if they should, with a more ready 
mind, indorse his position, and wheel into line in its 
dissemination. At all events the man or men who 
are going to stop free speech in this country, have 
overslept into God's broad daylight at least a hun- 
dred years. You might as well stop the seed from 
falling from a forest of maples, in a gale of wind, as 
to shut off the publication of truth. You may fire a 
gun at a loon, but he only ducks his head to come up 
somewhere else. 

The fact is, truth will not stay down. It has been 
put down in some ways and times without number. 
It has been spiked down by its enemies, and tied 
down by its friends ; and like the cat which my wife 
undertook in her girlhood to drown, it generally gets 
home before they do. The harder the wind blows in 
opposition, like the boy's well-made kite, the higher 
it sails. The wise servants of the Devil who wish to 
stifle the truth, discovered this fact long ago, while 
the simple pass on in their heedless way and spread 
more truth by trying to stop it in their violent way 
than its friends could ever do. 



PEEACHEBS AND PREACHING. 405 

" And God said let there be light ; and there was 
light." And we believe there always will be while 
God lives. 



SUBMISSIOIsr TO GOD 

Submission is an excellent state of mind for a 
Christian to attain to under Divine grace ; but it must 
be sub?nission to God in order to redound to his glory, 
and receive the blessing of God. There are those, 
however, who ignorantly think that submitting to 
commandments of men, and teaching them for doc- 
trines, is submission to God. But apostolic succession 
does not succeed, nor does submission to human ordi- 
nances submit to God. Some are noted for their sub- 
mission to man. They will wilt before human man- 
dates, like a severed cabbage leaf before the sunshine^ 
A hand on the money till, another on the pantry door^ 
and a knowing nod in the direction of honor, makes 
them look as silly and wistful as a hungry dog, who, 
under analogous circumstances will go through all the 
maneuvers that he has been taught, and that his mas- 
ter may suggest. But such persons may be very stub- 
born and rebellious toward the wondrous ways of 
God, "stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and 
ears," and "as their fathers did so do they, always 
resist the Holy Ghost." 

On the other hand a man may be very pliable to 
Divine leading, and if the Spirit does not wish him to 
go to a certain place he will not go, no matter about 
the human inducements; and yet such a one may not 
feel very sweetly submissive to the commands of the 
High-priest. 



406 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

The martyrs were excellent examples of sweet sub- 
mission to the will of Heaven, though it was that will 
that they be licked out of existence by the flames of 
faggot fires; but there was no pliability in them 
toward the ecclesiastics who were trying to make 
them submit. What irony was that in the impromptu 
verse of St. Laurence on the gridiron : — 

Turn me ; this side enough is toasted, 
And see whether raw or roasted 
I am the better meat. 

We are to '* submit to every ordinance of man, for 
the Lord's sake," by constraint, but not willingly, ix,^ 
we must not use carnal force to resist; but we can 
"talk," as Wendall Phillips said concerning the slav- 
ery question. And talk cuts, when in demonstration 
of the Spirit and of power, as in Peter's and Stephen's 
cases. They "cut to the heart;" that is deeper than 
you can cut with a sword. The martyrs submitted to 
God, and 1<rf the ordinances of men, both at the same 
time, though they were antagonistic to each other, 
which worked out for them *' a far more exceeding 
and eternal weight of glory." 

There are elders who "rule well," and there are 
elders who rule ill. The elders who " rule well " are to 
" be accounted worthy of double honor, especially 
[not they who are idle in God's work, and busybodies 
in other men's matters, but] they who labor in word 
and doctrine." The elders who " rule well" are some- 
what scarcer than those who rule ill. 

The martyrs were fine samples of Christian " anar- 
chists," if you wish to apply a wrong term to those 
who dare to think and speak for themselves and act 
for God. The world would be no worse off if they 



PREACHERS AND PREACHING. 407 

were more plenty. " To them we owe the liberties 
we enjoy today," is the testimony wrung out of infidel 
lips. A faithful watch-dog is bound to keep up the 
warning bark until called off by his master, no matter 
if it does disturb some people's ease — that is what it 
is done for. But you can stop it by shooting the dog, 
and letting the eogue go free. It helps along the 
world's way of doing business to release Barrabas and 
crucify Christ. The world is cursed with plenty of 
those, who, like "everybody's dog," will go where 
they can get the most meat. Yet there are men who 
will be true to conscience, and will warn every man 
and entreat every man, and will starve before, in 
places of public trust, they will betray righteousness, 
or the truth of God — at the clamorous behest of any 
man to maintain harmony, while the people of God 
are misled — or use *' whitewash " in treating any 
matter where "soap and water" is the proper appli- 
cation. 



"HE MEANS ME." 

It is not an unusual thing for the hearer of j)reach- 
ing, or the reader of papers and books, to get a coat 
of Divine truth shown him which fits him. Those 
who are particular about their spiritual attire will 
generally take it home good-naturedly, and wear it if 
they need it. In this case, the fit is governed by the 
need. Some who are blind to their need, but not to 
the fit, are apt to feel offended at the dealer in Divine 
truth, and say to themselves, " He means us." Of 
course he means you, if he is a faithful servant of 
God, atnd the coat fits and you need it, though he 



408 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

may not know it. If you do not need anything of 
the kind, and do not mean to have it, what do you 
put yourself in the way of its disposal so often for? 

When a man visits a clothing store, the dealer is 
apt to think he wants a garment, and generally talks 
on that subject, and shows him one ; and if he does 
not want folks to see how nice it fits him, he should 
not try it on. But he is not at all ashamed of the 
fact that he needs a real coat, and will just as soon 
try one on as not ; neither should anyone be surprised 
that they need new truth occasionally. It is strange 
that people of spiritual aspirations should be more 
careful of their bodily dress than of their spiritual 
costume. 

Unlike some departments for clothing, where gar- 
ments are cut to order to fit all manner of deformi- 
ties, monstrosities and caprices. Divine truth is ready- 
made. The size and cut was determined long ago by 
the "Author and Finisher ; " and all that now remains 
for the man of God is to show it to the world, and 
dispose of it. And the disposal of it is entirely con- 
trolled by the honesty of people regarding their oion 
needs. God calls one man to represent Him and show 
this heaven-manufactured garment of truth to men ; 
and He calls upon those men to take it to themselves. 
" The gifts and callings of God are without repent- 
ance." It is not for men to change places in the call- 
ing of God ; nor for them to " compare themselves 
among themselves." The standard of spiritual 
attainment has been " once delivered to the saints ; " 
and as they are apt to fall back and lose sight of this 
fact, God has called men to direct their attention to 
it ; and called upon them to allow His Word " free 
course among them." 



PREACHEKS AND PREACHING. 409 

Let the Heaven-sent messenger of God never under- 
take to manufacture truth to the order of deformed 
men or sects. Tt will never fit in the eyes of God, or 
in the eyes of His discerning disciples, although the 
purchaser may be pleased with it. Spread out " the 
wedding garment" before the world, and make no 
allowance for caprices or malformations. They must 
be made to fit the garment, for the garment is ready 
made, and ordered not to be '* added unto," or " taken 
from." Talk and write Divine truth as though you 
felt that somebody needed it ; and be not surprised 
to hear that the man who lives at the next door 
should say, ^' You meant me." 

You need not pick out those who need it ; show 
them the goods, and their desirable qualities, and God 
will attend to their needs ; never mind what you 
think. You need not to be told — you better not be 
told by one man — about the needs of another man ; 
you are poorly qualified to exhibit truth if God has 
not, in thunder tones, told you that " a world lying in 
the wicked one " needs it. If one man or a set of 
men, should crawl out of their little, selfish corner in 
which they have snuggled themselves for a sweet nap 
— as a snake crawls out of a crack in a rock when a 
fire is built against it — saying with a piggish eye and 
a snappish voice, " You meant us," do not be fright- 
ened and think you are ahead of duty. This is a 
good sign that you have merely caught up with duty. 
When a modest man gets dea-d-in-earnest in any 
work, he will be apt to be surprised at the result. If 
nobody laughs or cries, nobody is pleased or mad at a 
good servant's honest efforts, then it is good evidence 
that he needs to sink the base of his operations into 
a richer and better vein, or quit the field. See Isaiah 
55 : 8-11. 18 



410 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

MISAPPREHENSION AND PREJUDICE. 

It is said to be one of the easiest things in the 
world to be mistaken. When we consider human 
frailty and feebleness of mind and body, we cannot 
help thinking that this is true. And there is no way 
so certain to teach a man this truth as by experience. 
By this method some learn this golden lesson which 
afterward proves so beneficial to them as teachers. 
But some are slow to learn, even under sucli a forci- 
ble teacher as experience. They have no realizinor 
sense that they were ever mistaken themselves, and 
so they pass over this important item in teaching 
others, and deal with them as though they were at 
the battle front of prejudice and willful ignorance. 
And the more you fight the prejudice and seeming 
willful ignorance of persons, the more prejudiced 
and willfully ignorant they will seem. 

There is a better way : Disarm misapprehension 
and the enemy is yours. How is that to be done? 
JlSfot by comhat. Probably your combatant can 
handle prejudice against truth as well as you can 
manage truth. Prejudice is the defence of ignor- 
ance ; it is the weapon of misapprehension and the 
only one which it will cling to as long as that condi- 
tion lasts. Then to dissipate prejudice you must not 
fight, but teach. You must not be full of scolding 
words, slang phrases, and cant sentences, but you 
must be full of real information, full of facts which 
you must give to them in a simple loving manner. 
This is the divinely ordained strategem which unties 
the bandage of prejudice from people's eyes and 
makes them see. If they are " willingly ignorant," as 
Peter says, and manifest prejudice, there is no other 



PREACHERS AND PREACHING. 411 

remedy. You must do the same as to the others, or 
else, in obedience to God, leave them alone as He did 
Ephriam for " they are joined to idols." Scolding is 
like throwing a bucket of water against the wind; 
you get it back in your own face. 

Misapprehension in other words, is the parent of 
prejudice. You cannot move the child till you start 
the parent. Capture the bear and you have the cub ; 
capture the cub first, and you have the bear — in 
your face clawing your eyes out. 

Daniel the prophet may have been somewhat pre- 
judiced concerning the vision, but God did not send 
an angel to give him a scolding ; He sent an angel to 
give him " skill and understanding." If He had not 
done so, Daniel would have been prejudiced in time 
if he was not then, as a great many are in regard to 
those things now, and will continue to be until taught 
instead of fought. What a wonderful teacher was 
Jesus ! When people would not learn, but wanted to 
scold and act out the Devil generally, then He would 
" hold His peace ; " but when the common people 
would hear Him gladly, how wonderfully did He 
open His mouth ! Let us learn of Him whether we 
would act publicly or privately, whether taught or 
teaching, for He was me^k and humble of heart. 



SENTIMENTAL PIETY. 

Not that there is no sentiment in true piety, — - 
there is, beautiful, refined, poetical. It is the epit- 
ome of everything good and elevating. * But there is 
much nominal Christianity of today that is little less 



412 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

than sentiment. It is preached by many so-called 
ministers of the Gospel. Born in comfort, cradled in 
luxury, petted, pampered, and ignorant of care and 
labor in boyhood and early manhood, they are borne 
on the wave of good fortune to college, and if they 
do vol die of these excesses are received into popular 
favor as — what? Pulpit ornaments. Who could 
expect the Gospel of the lowly Nazarene from such a 
source? Nursed in the pulpit, this sentimental piety, 
— delicate thing! — fainting, fanning, gasping, has 
leaned upon the arm of affluence and been introduced 
to the world as the effect of the Gospel of Christ. 

The minister of Christ is simply acting in His 
absence, duly authorized, and so must be governed by 
the same motives in the prosecution of the work, 
which actuated the great but humble Predecessor. 
His ministers, in Bible times, used to be sent of Him ; 
but now gold and popular cajolery seem to furnish 
the motive to many. Bearing God's message then 
was something rather, if possible, to be avoided 
(Jonah, e.g.) ; now in certain circles it is courted — 
not the bearing of the message, but the clerical func- 
tions simply. Could they have one year's salary like 
that of the prophets, who were "examples of suffer- 
ing affliction," or of Jesus and His apostles, we think 
there would be many vacancies. 

We have now a kind of Gospel temperance preach- 
ing on a high-toned base, an exponent of which, on 
being inquired of by letter as to terms should he 
decide to go and labor with a people in a certain city, 
replied — "one hundred and fifty dollars per week, 

and board at the best hotel. Yours in Christ ." 

How does tliat sound beside the greatest of all tem- 



PREACHERS AND PREACHING. 413 

perance Preachers, who " had not where to lay His 
he.icl?" 

Not only are the ministers of Christ to be " ensam- 
ples to the flock, over which the Holy Ghost [not 
rich and ambitious friends] hath made them over- 
seers," but the church must, with them, present to the 
world, the foundation and framework of the Gospel 
as well as its embellishment. This can and must be 
done both by precept and example. In spite of God's 
means to test, and our privilege to know our sonship 
with Him, a bastard church exists. The real seeker 
for the honors of God desires, above all, to know his 
certain relation to Him, and " counts it all joy when 
he falls into " any trial that reveals that valuable 
information. But a multitude embraces a religion 
today of present pleasure. It is represented to them 
as very flowery ; and so they are sore perplexed when 
trials come, and " by-and-by are offended, because of 
the word." 

Christianity has true glory in itself ; it does not 
borrow it of the world or even of surroundings. 
Paul and Silas in the Phillipian jail, for example. 
Much of the fine feeling of some, however, rests on 
no other foundation than pleasant surroundings, fine 
sails and a propitious breeze. Christian glorying 
must not be done in what this world affords ; its 
pleasures or flatteries, but in the cross of Christ. 
This was Paul's glory. We have seen much bombast 
and flourish in professed Christians that savored of 
the flesh. " Let him that glorieth, glory in the Lord." 
If one's glory is in Him, storms of adverse influences 
will not obliterate it, "because it is founded upon a 
Rock." But this sentiment based upon favorable cir- 



414 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

curastances and the flesh, the great storm to come 
will carry away. Nothing but Christ will do for 
a foundation. Build upon Him. Be a practical 
Christian. 

Must I be carried to the skies 

On flowery beds of ease, 
While others fought to win the prize 

And sailed through bloody seas ? 



MIGHTY MEN NEEDED. 

In view of the fact that the church of God has a 
mighty work to do, a mighty battle to fight — not 
with carnal weapons — there are needed a few spirit- 
ually mighty men — a few will do if they are mighty 
enough ; not mighty in human attainments : in Greek 
and grammar, Latin and logic; not mighty among 
men, and in their denominations merely, though they 
will be a power wherever they are ; not mighty fine 
in speech, elocution, oratory, appearance, and fuss and 
feathers, nor in any form of carnal mightiness. The 
church has all these — thank God for the Greek and 
grammar, Latin and logic, and all that is good; but 
the Devil be blamed for much else — the church has 
all these and is yet lean and hungry. 

The work of God is slipping back for the lack of 
lifting Samsons: men who are "mighty through 
God." These are the mighty men who are wanted ; 
men who, like Apollos of old, are "mighty in the 
Scriptures," and yet who, like him, are humble enough 
to profit by the expositions of " the way of God 
more perfectly " by an Aquila or Priscilla who does 
not preach ; men who will " believe " and have the 



PKEACHEES AND PREACHING. 415 

"all things" i\^hich "are possible " to such; men who 
prevail with God — these are the princely preachers 
who are needed just now both in the pulpit and in 
the pew. What is the reason we cannot have them ? 
Is the mightiness of God exhausted? We lack no 
new connecting link in our theory; but a lack of 
practical faith in God and his promises, in these days 
when we have to face the blinding clouds of infidel 
dust, is all that deprives us of these men. Who will 
be humble enough to lie low, letting the clouds go 
overhead, and discern just beyond by faith the 
mighty workings of God enough to bestir himself 
with that holy impetus which can only be derived 
that way? Or, change the figure if you please, and 
call it climbing the mount of faith, seeing oi^er the 
dust ; the result will be the same. 

"By faith" — what? Everything. Hebrews 11th 
chapter. " Not by might nor by power [of the human 
kind] but by my Spirit saith the Lord." The Spirit 
is the mainspring of living faith; this is the channel 
of power. When a man gets humble enough to form 
the bed — the unseen^ yet firm and rugged bed over 
which this mighty current may flow, then there will 
be something done down stream. "By faith" years 
ago some were " out of weakness made strong " ; Sam- 
son for instance. The child grew and the Lord 
blessed him. He was "the strongest man " you know. 
Strongest how? Not by nature. For certain specific 
work and purposes God blessed him with much mus- 
cular strength, no doubt ; but then the secret of his 
lifting did not lie in his muscle, nor in any " lifting 
harness," nor in any peculiarly shrewd way of taking 
hold ; but the fact was, when Samson bowed down to 
the burden, God bowed with him and lifted too. 



416 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

That house full of enemies who had gathered to 
make fun of the old man, and had brought him out 
for that purpose, were judged of God. It was no 
little shanty containing a few persons at whom this 
judge in Israel became enraged and overturned them. 

Now the house was full of men and women ; and all the 
lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the 
roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while 
Samson made sport. Judges 16 : 27. 

A sorry day of sport to them, as is often the case 
when God's servants are mocked and ridiculed. 

" By faith " — I have written of Samson ; " what 
more shall I say ? for the time would fail me to tell 
of Gideon, and of Barak, and others." It would be 
but a repetition of the same principle of faith in God 
in other channels of duty and work. " Have faith in 
God." This is the mightiness wanted and needed. 
"Not many wise men after the flesh, not many 
mighty, not many noble are called " (1 Cor. 1 : 26) 
to the work of God. What use would they be ? It 
would take longer to empty I hem of their wisdom, 
strip them of their strength, and get their nobility 
decently buried out of sight, and get the rubbish 
cleared away, than it would for God to do the work 
with such men as He can use ; for God has to do the 
principal part of his work anyway, as well as to over- 
see it. 

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, 
Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because 
the foolishness of God is wiser than men ; and the weakness 
of God is stronger than men. Fo]* you see your calling, 
brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not 
many mighty, not many noble are called: But God hath 
chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; 



1 



PREACHERS AND PREACHING. 417 

and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to con- 
found the things which are mighty; And base things of the 
world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, 
and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are : 
That no flesh should glory in His presence. 1 Cor. 1 : 24-29. 
Where is boasting then ? It is excluded. By what law ? 
of works? Nay ; but by the law of faith. Rom. 3: 27. 



SELFISHNESS AMONG CHRIST'S SERVANTS. 

That men by nature are too selfish is too well 
known to both reader and writer to deserve anything 
here but a painful regret ; but that they should still 
allow this trait to crop out under grace is more than 
painfully regretful, — it is surprising. Yet the cause 
of Christ has been hindered by it ever since the 
Savior came into the world. Some of the apostles 
themselves were sometimes on the alert, not to 
magnify the Lord, but themselves. They were jeal- 
ous of one another, striving to see " who should be 
greatest." Even at the last supper with the Lord 
before His death, they were engaged in a like dis- 
pute. Luke 22 : 24. But they were not always so. 
If you want to study human nature as it is, and learn 
its deserving lessons of reproof, take the twelve 
apostles as they were before Christ ascended," and 
they had received the gift of the Spirit. If you 
want to learn what grace will do for it, read the 
account of the lives of the same men after the 
descent of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost. Before 
that their aims were for honor ; afterward they 
" rejoiced that they were accounted worthy to suffer 
shame for His name." 
18* 



418 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

But the Penticostal outpouring by no means put 
an end to selfishness in the church. It would have 
done so, provided its benefits had always been appro- 
pri ated ; but men " supposing that gain is godliness," 
and destitute of the Spirit, have always, to some 
extent, infested the church of Christ. Paul spoke of 
them in his letter to the Philippians in the following 
painful strain : — 

But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly 
unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know 
your state. For I have no man like minded, who will nat- 
urally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the 
things which are Jesus Christ's. 

Men lost to self and loyal to the cause of Christ 
were scarce in those days. But there were some. 
St. Paul was fully our conception of such a man, — 
second only to Him who set the example and called 
him to His service. And he had associates of the 
same stamp, many of whom we might name ; and he 
was troubled with that class now so very common, 
of which he prophesied in his second letter to 
Timothy — 

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall 
come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, etc. 

He does not prophesy of that good time of which 
so many now speak, when everybody shall love the 
Lord; but it is themselves they are going to love. 
J never knew a man to love the Lord as he ought, 
and be so particularly thoughtful of self. Paul has 
forewarned us of an era of selfishness. 

And, do you know, preachers are apt in their 
teaching to apply this wholly outside the church — 



PREACHEES AND PEE ACHING. 419 

to the world? But it needs no inquiry or search to 
find out that selfish men are in the pulpit, press, com- 
mittee, deaconship and pew. If the kingdom of God 
was to some, in apostolic days, " meat and drink," 
instead of " righteousness and peace " ; if they fol- 
lowed Jesus for the "loaves and fishes " instead of 
the bread of life ; if among twelve men gathered 
around Christ, there should be "strife about who 
should be greatest " ; if in Paul's day, among the 
servants of God so many were " caring only for their 
own " and " not the things of Christ's " ; and if Paul 
said that in the last days men should "love them- 
selves," we may reasonably expect, not the conver- 
sion of the world, but a swarm of selfish men in the 
service of Christ in places of trust, and in the pew. 
Has it not transpired ? The Judases may not assent, 
but the Pauls and Timothys will say, painfully, It is 
alas ! too true. 

People are apt to have a wrong idea of what sel- 
fishness is, especially as we find it among the pro- 
fessed servants of Christ. It is not necessarily ugli- 
ness or disagreeableness. It is a love of self that 
predominates over their love for the always unpopu- 
lar truths as they are associated with the advancing 
cause of Christ. Hence men are in the pulpit today, 
the very epitome of selfishness, who are as oily- 
tongued as was the Devil in Eden. They have got 
such a self-sacrificing love for their parishioners that 
they are perfectly willing to keep still, as far as any 
note of warning concerning the impending day of 
judgment is involved, and sleep on with them, run- 
ning the risk of their awful responsibility at the 
throttle of Divine Truth. 

These are the men that pained the heart of loyal 



420 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

Paul in his day, and whom he jDrophesied should exist 
in abundance in the last days. Men who look with 
more of a jealous eye to their salary and present 
honor than to the future weal of a judgment-bound 
generation. 

Pass not this by in idle comment, ye who profess to 
be the ambassadors of Christ. Have I not struck a 
solemn truth? I appeal to your candor. Be warned, 
and weigh yourself under the eye of an omnipotent 
God, who will require their blood at your hands to 
whom you have failed to sound the note of warning 
and preparation. Suj^posing others have made mis- 
takes in heralding the approach of it too soon, is that 
an argument against its ever occurring ? If you cease 
to warn men altogether, you are at the other extreme, 
and equally as censurable. Maintain, therefore, the 
medium path. 

Well, there is no profit in revealing a grievous sore 
unless there is a remedy ; or to study the character 
of it so as to prevent its spread. We advise the 
church of Christ to purge itself as far as possible of 
these "spots in our feasts of charity." Let the true 
Pauls of today level the sword of the Spirit right at 
these men, not with anger, but with the love of 
Christ. Preach the necessity of being "filled with 
the Spirit." That is the only remedy. It was what 
straightened out the apostles, and it is the thing for 
these times more especially. Preach and talk that 
which is death to self. There are many practical hits 
that many need to set them to realizing how little of 
the real Spirit of Christ and the Gospel they have. 
Who will give them, though they wound unto death? 
" Now if any man have not the Spiiit of Christ, he 
is none of His." 



PREACHERS AND PREACHING. 421 

POmXED TRUTH. 

God's servants are charged to "preach the Word;" 
and that Word is therein said to be 

Quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged 
sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and 
spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of 
the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

It is "the sword of the Spirit," and who ever heard 
of a sword without a point ? It is sharp. By its use 
in apostolic times (even the Old Testament) some 
were " cut to the heart ; " and " they gnashed on him," 
who wielded it, " with their teeth." They were mad 
clear through ; but we have never learned that 
Stephen attempted to smooth the matter over for the 
sake of "union," saying that he did not intend to 
hurt any one ; that it was not designed for any one 
present, but for the Mormons. What is God's Word 
called a sword for unless somebody is going to feel 
hurt by its use ? We should not think it would feel 
very pleasant to have it pierce " even to the dividing 
asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and 
marrow." 

Surgeons do not lance sores for fun ; soldiers do 
not press the saber to the battle front for pleasure ; 
nor do God's servants use the Gospel sword for 
amusement. As long as souls exist duty will demand 
it. The stern work must be done. 

But the prevailing church has a way now of preach- 
ing, publishing and talking the Gospel so as not to 
hurt many. It does not " cut to the heart " as of 
yore. People will bear a gentle scratch now and 
then, but when you begin to go more than skin deep 
the sleepy adversary will be up, wide awake and snap- 



422 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

ping his teeth. Well, this is an age when men are 
" lovers of pleasure," and it is not pleasant to point 
out the sins of folks (especially the rich ones), and 
get them down on you. So it is perfectly natural 
that the servant of God should cease opposition and 
fall into line with the crowd, and have a jolly good 
time together. 

Is not that about the way the thing is working 
now, candid reader? But the old sword has still the 
point and the edge, and a few dare even now to use 
it. Well, keep at it. There will be more work for 
you in this line, since it is so much neglected. Do 
not ramble round much. Come to the point. If you 
must needs use a parable, never finish till you say, 
"Thou art the man." Be brief. A short sword with 
a point is better than a long one which is blunt. If 
you see an evil which the Word of God will remedy, 
go for it. 



THE MINISTER WHO WILL DRAW. 

That minister is counted the most successful nowa- 
day who draws the best ; and so everything that will 
tend to draw is taken into account, and everything 
that will scatter is left out. The fact is, popular 
worship is fast getting to be the old pagan idolatry re- 
produced. The main thing then was to get up some- 
thing to draw. Do you know that God in His Word 
used to symbolize this kind of worship, and what He 
said about it? It was a great red dragon. Well, 
what did He do? He ''drew." How did He draw! 
" His tail drew the third part of the stars of Heaven, 
and did cast them to the earth." Look at that, you 



PREACHERS A]SID PREACHING. 423 

popular idolatrous churches, and see what mischief 
your grand sire wrought. He drew some of the 
bright lights which God had placed in the firmament 
of His church down to a level with the world. And 
do you not know that is most always a result of some 
of these modern devices to draw ? 

Something to draw is not always what is most 
needed. A body that is full of remediless humors 
should not have anything to draw placed at a vital 
point ; it will only complicate difficulties. Better 
put on something to scatter and doctor through the 
blood. The church, which is the breathing place of 
God to man and man to God, has suffered immensely 
under these drawing devices. It is loaded to death 
with corruption. Diseases of the wide world that 
ought to be confined to the feet and toes, have crept 
along up under the drawing method and fastened on 
the vitals. 

Christ said, " If I be lifted up I will draw all men 
unto meP Well, if all men will be savingly drawn 
to Christ it is well ; but drawn to Christ and drawn 
to a minister are two different things. The Holy 
Spirit alone can do the former, while the spirit of 
vnan too often does the latter. 

I believe that Christ will draw men unto Him by 
the voice of the Spirit ; though " a still small voice, 
yet speaking in thunder tones," He will draw the 
attention of sinners from the giddy attractions of 
this world to Himself. But to be drawn to an object 
and to stay drawn are two matters. God's Spirit 
will do its work, and as probationers we must do ours 
• to be saved. The day is soon coming when Christ 
will draw all men who ever lived to His judgment 
seat, and reward every man according to his works. 
Rev. 20: 11, 15; 



424 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

SIMPLICITY. 

Ambitious man is ever apt to overdo the thing in 
whatever he undertakes. Once in a while you can 
see a man or woman who is down where they can be 
of some service to God ; but the majority are at work 
on the tower of Babel. More ambition thm ability 
keeps half of the servants of God waiting for some- 
thing to turn to which is grand enough for them to 
take hold of. Had they "the simplicity which is in 
Christ," they would go immediately to work at the 
thousand things at their feet which they are able to 
do. Ambition, like steam, is good ; but it must have 
the drive- wheel of ability to be of real service. 
Escaping steam makes a terrific noise ; and so does 
unrestrained ambition. 

What strength there is in simplicity ! What are 
the two chief constituent elements of simplicity ? 
Honesty and truth. And a man that carries these in 
his message is bound to be a power, for there is force 
in them. He is thoroughly furnished unto every 
good work, in spite of his lack of the culture which 
others possess. He is all through what others are on 
the outside ; and time will put as good a polish as 
theirs to his exterior. He that lacks truth in his 
message, to say nothing of honesty, will have to 
resort to affectation to make up the deficiency. He 
will study gesture, sound, and all the artificial airs 
available ; and ere he gets his balloon inflated, the 
lark of simplicity will be high in the air singing his 
morning song. 

David, the shepherd boy, knew the value of sim- 
plicity. He knew under God what he could do with 
his sling and smooth stone; but uncertainty would 
attend him in Saul's ponderous armor*/ This is typi- 



PREACHERS AND PREACHING. 425 

cal of true Christianity everywhere. People should 
be " partakers of the Divine nature," and then act 
naturally, and they will have true simplicity. There 
is an entrancing beauty to simplicity which is sure to 
win after a while the admiration which over-orna- 
mentation has first gained and then repelled. It is 
an evidence of the highest culture. 



"SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE." 

Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife ; and 
some also of good will : The one preach Christ of contention, 
not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds : But 
the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of 
the Gospel. What then ? notwithstanding, every way, 
whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached ; and I 
therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. Phil. 1: 15-18. 

The essential truths of Christianity — and for that 
matter all are essential, some being more important 
than others — must be preached somehow; and we 
are to rejoice with the Apostle that they are preached, 
that Christ is put before the people. But it is bpM 
done with love. It is more effectual that way. Love 
wins; bitterness drives away. You can catch more 
flies with molasses than with vinegar. lie who would 
win sou]s must be wise with Divine wisdom, and have 
a wooing manner. Supposing a man wanted to gain 
the heart of a lady to be his wife ; would his manner 
be harsh and grating? Would he ventilate his opin- 
ions in a repugnant manner, and show himself to be 
a bigot or. egotist? No ; he would talk as smooth as 
oil, and as carefully as an oculist handles an eye. 
His object is to win, and to that end every phrase 



426 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

would be bent. So "he that winneth souls is wise." 
It takes a wise man to do it — wise with heavenly- 
wisdom — and he is wise for doing it. 

But be not deceived about this matter. Errors 
come, like sardines, to us sometimes, nicely packed in 
oil. Error is error, no matter how delivered? Truth 
is truth, if it comes rattling down upon us like shag- 
bark walnuts, making us bleed. The shagbark of the 
walnut should be divested and left behind before put- 
ting the nut into market. It is a walnut still if that 
is taken off. It is more marketable. So truth should 
be presented in a marketable manner. Every busi- 
ness man knows enough to put the best side of an 
article out. But as for truth, it is the same all round 
and all through ; yet there is a way to show it up to 
advantage. To old hands the truth is welcome in 
any shape ; but it is a new dish to many, and should 
be served in the most inviting manner possible. 

But it does seem as though some silly people pre- 
ferred error smoothly given to truth plainly spoken. 
They do not seem to have even Pilate's interest to 
inquire " what is truth ? " — do not care enough about 
it to know it if they were told. All they want is 
something that sounds pretty; that comes on the 
wing of smooth, well-rounded sentences and bewitch- 
ing cadences. In this way, the Devil easily palms off 
chaff for wheat. 

But there are others more noble who search the 
Scriptures daily to see if these things are so. They 
have a love for the truth itself, instead of a love for 
the pre-eminence which some have, using the truth 
only as a stepping-stone to boost themselves into 
notoriety. They prize the truth so highly that they 
bring it out and unfold it as carefully as a mother 



PREACHERS AND PREACHING. 



427 



shows the picture of her honored son. O let us be 
baptized with love for the truth, and " buy it and sell 
it not." 



RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD. 



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The preaching of Jesus was that of " a workman 
that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the 
word of truth." God has in His Holy Book stored 
up truths for all generations. There are some basal 
elements of the redemptive plan which, like the sus- 
pension wires of the bridge over Niagara river, span 
the entire width and depth of human depravity ; but 
some of the leading cross- wires, or guys, are dispen- 
sation al, and much of the net- work is of a local char- 
acter. Jesus, the Son of the Infinite, knew just how 
to divide it, giving to His hearers their portion of 
meat in due season. And He knew how to do it 
without study ; but Paul thought that Timothy had 
better " study " to do it " rightly," in spite of the fact 



428 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

that ^\frora a child he had known the Holy Scriptures 
which are able to make thee wise unto salvation." 
But it is one thing to *' save ourselves," and another 
and quite a harder thing to " save them that hear us." 
We shall all do well (if we are far enough advanced) 
to enter Timothy's class and study — what? The 
approval of men ? No ; that class is too large already. 
" Study to show thyself approved of OodP 

To be able to repair clocks, it is not enough that 
we know the number of wheels one contains; we 
must know where they belong, 

Not every drug clerk who knows every root and 
herb, every pill and potion, in Greek and Latin, 
whichi the store contains, is fit to prescribe for an 
ordinary ill, to say nothing of grappling with new 
diseases ; because it is one thing to know medicines, 
and another to know diseases and what will cure 
them. 

To be able to preach, it is not enough that we are 
a fluent rej^eater of Scripture, putting in every and 
and but. We must know where and to whom it 
belongs. The apostles knew its application better 
than its mere verbiage, as you will see by following 
up their quotations. 

There are any quantity of quacks who know only 
one medicine for every ill, so there are many minis- 
ters who are delving in Biblical history when they 
should be preaching present truth and prophecy. 
Present truth is the two-edged sword of the Spirit 
which pierces and cuts in every age. Many are using 
it handle first, and God will give them the blade into 
their own vitals ere long unless they do differently. 
Jesus divided that quotation from Isaiah, leaving out 
♦* the day of vengeance of our God," because it was 



PREACHEES AND PREACHING. 429 

not clue, and He gave these people on this occasion 
present truth which although spoken in meek and 
gracious words made certain ones mad, and endan- 
gered His life. Who will follow PI is example in 
meek and kind speaking as well as preaching present 
truth ? The disciple is not above His Master. Is 
there not a division of dispensational truth, and many- 
subdivisions of practical ti-uth for this age ? Where 
is the cutting, piercing sword, in the sheath ? 



AMONG THE STUMPS, 

Are you the victim of falsehood ? Do not be rash 
or hasty to clear it up. Truth lives while falsehood 
goes to speedy decay. Imitate the farmer who is 
trying to clear up and settle a new piece of land and 
get it into good seed. He does not worry, fret and 
labor trying to pull up live stumps. He keeps at 
work doing the best he can among the stumps^ and 
lets them rot, when they are easily disposed of, and 
good seed can be put in their places. Folks cannot 
live on a harvest of stumps ; therefore the precious 
seed must be sown on what ground there is in the 
time of sowing, if the husbandman would in time of 
harvest " come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves." 

Do not spend valuable time trying to uproot lies ; 
their existence is brief at the longest. Keep right 
along in your good work of sowing and reaping, and 
let them rot. It is often a trick of the adversary to 
get lies started about a servant of God in order to 
stop the planting of truth that the time may be 
wasted tracing out lies, and straightening every 
crook. 



430 CKUMBS OF THE BIIEAD OF LIFE. 

Time is short. Doubtless there are some ministers 
and other workers in the Lord's vineyard who would 
accomplish more lasting good if they would set them- 
selves more heartily at work sowing the precious 
seed among the stumps, and gathering in what golden 
grain they can. It is folly to suppose that we must 
have the field all clear of error before we s )W the 
good seed. It is a laudable desire to wish it were 
clear, and commendable to labor to that end as wis- 
dom gives us opportunity ; but error is so firmly 
rooted, that we cannot apply all our time and ener- 
gies in uprooting it if we would gather some sheaves 
in harvest for our sowing. " He that goeth forth and 
weepeth [because there are stumps and other obstruc- 
tions] , bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come 
again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." 
Ps. 126 ; 6. 



PRAYER. 431 



CHAPTER XIV. 



COMMUNION WITH GOD. 

To be an effective Christian, right in private life 
and pungent in public effort, there should be much 
retirement with God, much secret communion with 
Him, much meditation u23on Him and His Word. 
This alone will balance a person's piety, tone up his 
spirituality, and recharge him with Divine power. 
Unless this is done constantly one gets to be a sort 
of carnel brawler, fond of debate concerning ques- 
tions of no profit, and indifferent to the weightier 
matter of saving the perishing ; unsympathetic with 
the troubled and distressed, hard, cruel and censori- 
ous. 

That magnet which has long been in contact with 
a mass of old iron, at last gets on a level in power 
with the whole lump; and needs to be returned to 
the battery for a full charge, if you want to see 
things move. There is so much clatter of voices, 
confusion of ideas, and din generally that a man gets 
confused and it is best then to get into the closet, 
shut out the noise and call on the Lord and ask Him 
all about it ; and you can talk with Him as long as 
you please, and not conflict or bother anybody. 

Then when you come out you are all straightened 
out of the mental snarl, face shining and smiling as 
though you had just met a great friend, and heart all 
aglow for further work on the Gospel line. After 



432 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

a siege along the shores of Galilee, many being 
healed of infirmities, the Gospel being preached in 
its purity and force, people all stirred up over it, 
Jesus would betake Himself to the mountain alone to 
pray, to commune with God relative to further 
efforts. This is the way to heal your sickness, rest 
your tired body and tune up for another rehearsal. 

Though Jesus' public sayings were pretty well 
reported, as they well might have been, there are, to 
be sure, but few of His prayers printed. And when 
He was praying at His best one night, the brethren 
were all asleep. Ah ! would that we might now 
read some of those mountain prayers ! There was 
the spring from which the water of life flowed, that 
was the secret of success. Supposing His private 
communings with God were not reported — they 
would not have been private if they had been — 
the very fact that He went off alone to pray is in 
itself sufficient evidence that He went after some- 
thing good, and we should follow Him in that 
example. 

Christianity is not all public parade, though public 
effort is a result of secret communion with God. 
But, alas, many seem to think that when the oppor- 
tunity to show off has passed by, Jesus has gone too. 
No ! " Lo I am with you always even unto the end 
of the world." When company is gone our familiar 
friends seem the dearest. 

Enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, 
pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which 
seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Matt. 6 : 6. 

The mainspring of many a revival lies coiled up 
around the post of secret prayer. Give it a twist, 
brother. 



PRAYER. 433 

He who is in direct and constant communion with 
God, needs not to j^ine after anything that this world 
affords — anything that is not in harmony with God; 
Its fleeting and scanty joys, its transitory and unsatis- 
fying pleasures. Said one anciently, whose experi- 
ence on both sides qualifies his testimony : " In Thy 
presence is fullness of joy and at Thy right hand are 
pleasures forevermore." But to see this plan in 
working order, a retrospective mental trip to the 
barren rock called the Isle of Patmos may not be 
unproductive of profit. See him who wrote : — 

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the 
lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father 
but of the world. And the world passeth away, and the 
lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth 
forever. 

If John had not resllj believed this as well as taught 
it, his feeling and actions on Patmos would have been 
of another type. Do you hear him whine and whim- 
per at his hard lot ? Not a bit. Though he is your 
" companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and 
patience of Jesus Christ," he is none the less " in the 
Spirit on the Lord's day." What marvelous descrip- 
tions and profitable hints he gave us of what he saw 
and heard there ; but not a word about his personal 
discomforts or deprivations. What a contrast to 
many a disciple's career in this world ! Many a man 
might have gone on to that isle as he did, and instead 
of forever blessing mankind with the good which he 
saw and heard, page after page of complaint of lone- 
someness, scanty bill of fare, and miserable state 
generally, would have come from him. 

John had an ear, an eye and a heart for Divine 
19 



434 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

teaching while on that lonely isle. This was the 
measure of his comfort and content and blessing to 
us. With such conditions Heaven is propitious, and 
the desert attractive. On this line Jacob, with noth- 
ing less than a rock for a pillow, dreamed sweetly of 
Heaven, God and the angels ; and arose (not with the 
blues) but with the stiring expression, " This is none 
other but the house of God, and this is the gate of 
Heaven." And he dedicated that stone as "the 
house of God." 



"PRAY FOR US." 

A HALF dozen times, in as many different epistles, 
Paul makes the above request of the brethren. And 
he does not do it in that stereotyped, half-hearted 
way that many appear to in finishing off the end of a 
prayer-meeting exhortation. This is the way he goes 
at it : — 

Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's 
sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together 
with me in your prayers to God for me, etc. Eom. 15 : 30. 

Notice that Paul is left out of the specifications 
except that he is going to do his share of the praying. 

It is for the Lord's sake, the love of the Spirit, and 
that the Word may have free course and be glorified, 
which is the gist of all Paul's request for prayers ; 
his personal comfort seems not to be mentioned at 
all. It would be well for all who request prayers to 
be like-minded. And he does not ask anybody to 
'•^ say prayers" for him, but "strive together with 
me." It is to be a sort of wrestling match against 



PEAYER. 435 

the powers of darkness, and Paul is to be no idle 
spectator. He does not seem to think he could 
preach properly without the prayers of the church, — 

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the 
Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseveranca and 
supplication for all saints ; And for me, that utterance may 
be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make 
known the mystery of the GTospel, For which 1 am an ambas- 
sador in bonds ; that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought 
to speak. Eph. 6: 18-20. 

Some smart young ministers just turned out of the 
shop, where they make them, aj^pear as though they 
could go it alone well enough. And I guess they 
generally do — no God being in it. 

But here is the miraculously-appointed Apostle to 
the Gentiles, capable under the Lord of working won- 
derful miracles, and having performed them insomuch 
that people had brought oxen to sacrifice to him, 
supposing him to be a God, actually begging the 
brethren to pray for him that his ministry may be 
successful! One might suppose he was big enough 
to take care of himself, and another might think that 
as God knows everything that is going on, he could 
attend to the management of it without so much of 
praying business; but he has ordered it otherwise. 
It is his rule that special blessings granted shall be 
asked for, and that the greater the blessing sought, 
the more intense must be the wrestle of faith to 
obtain it. Instead of waiting for a call, with a fat 
salary attached, Paul loses no time to beseech the 
brethren that an open door may be offered him to 
preach Christ with the prospect. of stri23es and impris- 
onment as payment, and with great boldness, so that 
the fellows who have charge of this coin shall not 
diminish the measure. 



436 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

The lesson that we may see in all this is that the 
nearer to God one lives, and the more successful he is 
in the work, and the more desirous he is to do more, 
then the more he wants the prayers of God's true 
people. He is so anxious for eternal salvation for 
him'self, and the present and eternal salvation of 
others, that he wants every available power har- 
nessed into the service. But on the other hand, he 
who thinks he is able and smart enough to get along 
without the prayers of the righteous man, which 
availeth much, is in a dangerous place and powerless 
for good. When the church strive together with the 
preacher in their prayers, something good will be 
accomplished. 



PRAYING FOR PATIENCE. 

''Lord, give me more pntience," is often the cry of 
the impatient, though well-meaning soul. We should 
pray more to the point. The Lord does not have 
patience to sell or give away. The nurseryman does 
not come around to take orders for fruit, but for fruit 
trees. Patience is a fruit — a fruit of the Spirit, the 
same as love, joy, peace, faith, etc. It is the same 
thing as long suffering, only by another name. The 
Spirit of God dwelling in our hearts with our own 
diligence is what produces these excellent fruits. So 
the only way the Lord can give us more patience is to 
give us more of his Spirit. Then we may as well 
come to the point and pray for more Spirit; and we 
cannot pray, preach, exhort, or sing to God's accep- 
tance without the Spirit. But will God give us more 



PRAYER. 437 

of His Spirit than we diligently put to good use and 
improve upon? The parable of the talents implies 
that he will not. I would not feel like setting out 
another tree, or vine in a vineyard of mine (if I had 
one), unless my gardener was diligent with what he 
had already ; and was producing fruit enough to make 
it pay. 

Some seem to think that God will pour down His 
Spirit on us, and the fruits thereof will grow sponta- 
neously; and all we will have to do is to laugh, shout, 
and grow fat. But Peter did not seem to think that 
way. He says, 

And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith, 
virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, tem- 
perance ; and to temperance, patience, etc. 2 Pet. 1 : 5, 6. 

We add these graces to our characters in pretty 
much the same way as we add strength and sinew to 
our muscles : by using what we have. I should about 
as soon pray to God for more muscle as more patience. 
" In Him we live, and move, and have a being." God 
gives me physical life, but I must move to be strong 
and healthy. God gives us spiritual life, but we must 
exercise it in all goodness and righteousness or die. 

When our patience is tried the contest is simply, in 
nine cases out of ten, whether we will hold on to our 
patience and let the irritating circumstance go as of 
no account, or whether we will cling to the aggra- 
vat'.ng affair and^ let our patience go. Which is of 
thr most moment? Let us cling to our patience, or 
ra:her hold on to God and patience will take care of 
itself. See Rom. 5 : 2, 5 ; James 1 : 3, 4. 



438 CRUMBS OF THE J3READ OF LIFE. 

PRAYERS FIINDERKD. 

" Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them accord- 
ing to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto 
the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the 
grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered." 
1 Pet. 3 : 7. 

It does not require much to hinder our prayers — 
cause the family altar to drop out of use altogether, or 
if in use to spoil the efficacy of the prayers offered. A 
thunder shower often sours a pan of milk, and fixes 
the eggs under a setting-hen so they will never hatch. 
And one "family jar" may cause the participants to 
skip the morning prayers ; and if they are passed then 
they may be omitted next time, and so on. But if 
they are not omitted at all, their efficacy may be thus 
ruined. 

Outside of family relations it is not necessary for a 
man to swear, steal, lie or get drunk to hinder his 
prayers. Small things often prove great hindrances. 
A wet rail will hinder a locomotive. A wasp will tor- 
ment an elephant. The merest speck in the eye puts 
a man in misery. A small hole in a big balloon hin- 
ders its ascension. And little leakages of Spirit out 
of small holes in careless speech, thought and practice, 
puts a man out of a praying mood. You may as well 
call at a pump which has "run down " to get a drink 
of water, as to call on such a man to pray. The han- 
dle to the pump will work probablyp but there is no 
water, and the man's mouth may go well enough, but 
there is no pray in him. Know your man, minister, 
before you call on him to lead you in prayer, unless 
you simply want to "kill time" by the performance. 

*' Pray without ceasing," says the Apostle. That is, 



PRAYER. 439 

be in a ceaseless praying mood. The apostles had not 
learned that "business is business, and religion is 
religion." There was no " off and on " in their prac- 
tice. They had not learned how to lay their religion 
aside for the time being, and make shrewd bargains, 
joke, laugh and talk politics. There was no loose 
pulley in their piety to ship the belt on to Monday 
mornings. No; they kept belted on to the main 
shaft right along, and could pray with power any 
time. Evidently a child should so conduct himself 
that he can look his father in the face if he wants any- 
thing ; and when taken unawares he has no excuse to 
make, or "hemming" to do to divert attention from 
the matters in hand. 



PARTICULAR PRAYING. 

Some are particular about the sound of their pray- 
ers — how the sentences are rounded and finished. 
They do not pray as though they needed or wanted 
anything only to let folks know that they cari pray. 
But there are others who are particular about the 
thing prayed for, how^ever small it may be. They are 
not afraid to specify it right out in plain English, 
while others are praying for everything in general 
and nothing in particular. They never read many 
prayer books of men's make, but they have seen some 
of the promises of God, and are foolish enough to 
shape their prayers accordingly. While some make 
state prayers at state dinners and grand gatherings 
— pricking bags of wind — the saints of God will 
continue to ask in faith for the things they need, and 



440 CKUMBS OF THE BPvEAD OF LIFF 

get them. And they are not ashamed to ask for little 
things. 

Small things which we often tread under foot, and 
would not deign to pick up, sometimes turn out to be 
the very things above all others needed. How we 
will get annoyed sometimes in our cares because we 
lack simply a pin, a screw, or a nail, or a tool ; and 
with all our tramping and search, not one can be 
found in the house ! While we might not ask the 
Lord for these things directly, we should ask him for 
grace to bear the vexation ; and when we got cooled 
off we might find it. *' Cast thy burden on the Lord." 
Roll it off and roll it on. ^' Casting all your care on 
Him, for He careth for you," as Peter says. Some 
attempt to do so in a general way ; but there is no 
surer way of getting a bill settled than drawing up 
an itemized account. Put the case up to the Lord 
item by item. He takes notice of the sparrows that 
fall to the ground and the hairs of your head are all 
numbered. Probably He has the finest, strictest and 
best system of account keeping that was ever kept. 

On the railroad where the writer is employed, all 
supplies are obtained by requisition on the supply 
agent. Things that are needed are to be requested 
in writing ; and the same routine has to be gone 
through with, whether you need a bunch of matches 
or a planing machine ; and the bill will have to bear 
the same signatures and approvals. 

Put in your requisitions daily at the throne of 
grace for the things needed. Trouble the Lord with 
your burdens. See that poor man trudging along 
with that bag of meal on his shoulder. When he is 
invited to ride, he will hold it in his lap. " Rest in 
the Lord ; " but how can you do it and carry your 
burdens ? 



PRAYER. 441 

LONG PETITIONS. 

Sometimes long petitions are sent into city and 

State Governments ; but the length of the petition 

consists in the number of names signed as agreed to 

it, and not in the petition itself at the top, which is 

generally in few words, and prays for one thing. 

We think it would be well to put this plan into 
practice in petitioning the throne of grace for a 
special object, and in prayer-meetings generally. 

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agi-ee on 
earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be 
done for them of my Father which is in Heaven. Matt. 18 : 
19. 

A short petition, with a long list of names at the 
bottom of it, would be more likely to be answered at 
the City Hall than a long petition with one name; 
and an agreement among the people of God touching 
anything that they shall ask, with a few words and a 
good deal of the Spirit, will be more liable to get 
answered at the throne of grace than a long-winded 
prayer offered by one person, with more regard to 
human approbation than Divine guidance. 

If a special object is to be prayed for, let it be 
agreed on and stuck to until obtained, leaving out 
superfluous verbiage gotten up for human ears. 
There is too much scattering of the prayer forces 
generally. Paul admonished us to " pray for all men 
everywhere ;'^'^ and it seems as though some were 
bound to do it at one operation by the length of their 
prayers. The writer knows of a case where a minis- 
ter prayed at a funeral a half-hour by the watch ! It 
was quite a useful prayer in one respect : it divided 

the grief, 

19* 



442 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

It is well to ask great things of God, I know ; but 
when I hear ministers praying the stereotyped prayer 
for God to bless the theological institutions of learn- 
ing all over creation, I think he could not answer 
such a prayer without revolutionizing the things 
taught, and converting some of the teachers. And 
how surprised they would be to really see the bless- 
ing of God resting down in such places ! And it is 
getting to be a waste of time to pray for political 
parties as such, for they are " joined to their idols " — 
rum and the Irish vote. 

One thing I have noticed under the sun, and that 
is, there is a good meeting when one man figures 
prominently in it, and does the most of the praying 
and talking, if you let him tell it ; but other people 
who have listened have a different opinion. With 
some w^ho have a big bump of self-esteem, and a 
desire to lead, the broth is good for nothing unless 
they do the seasoning, and stirring, and presiding at 
the table. Let those who think God cannot bless a 
meeting unless they are there, stay at home a few 
times, and afterward make diligent inquiry of those 
who were there. 



GOD LOVES TO HEAR YOU PRAY. 

During a severe and dangerous sickness of our 
little two-and-a-half -year-old boy as he began to 
show signs of improvement, the sweetest message 
that we ever heard from him in his life was this 
innocent little prayer, which was about the first 
rational words that he uttered : " Papa, take me up ! " 
How it did send a thrill through our hearts! And 



PRAYER. 443 

why ? Because it was an evidence of progress in the 
right direction. So we thought that the great loving 
Father in Heaven must love to hear the simple, 
honest prayer of the sin-sick soul — " Father take me 
up," — " Take me up from wallowing in the mire of 
sin ; " " Take me up from degredation ; " " Take me 
up ; for I am bed-ridden with self-righteousness and 
self-seeking morality." All such prayers God will 
speedily answer, word for word. 

Then again we thought God must love to hear the 
artless prayer of all His own children. Not that He 
really needs evidences of our internal and spiritual 
condition, for He knows all things; but His people 
need to, know it, and He is "glad for their sakes." 
He has been pleased to have us think of Him as a 
Father, and to address Him as such; who is piteous, 
loving, kind and very merciful. He knows all things ; 
therefore He knows whether it is best to grant all of 
the se innocent pleas of His children or not. We did 
not take up our little sick child at his penitent plea: 
"Papa take me up," then^ although nothing would 
have pleased us more — because it was not best. He 
was th^n too weak to bear it. But we were pleased 
to hear the prayer, and we did answer it in another 
way. And so God loves to hear you pray although 
He may have to answer it in His way. He is never 
weary or impatient with our child-like requests. 
Jesus did not scold the mother of Zebedee's children 
for her request, though out of order. He said, " It 
shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my 
Father." 

Prayer is the soul's great qualifier. It qualifies us 
to bear the affliction which we have desired removed 
but which an all-wise Father thinks had better not 



444 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

be ; and helps us to act sensibly under superabound- 
ing mercies. Some one has truthfully said that 
prayer was " like the boat's painter ; not so much to 
draw the shore to us, as to draw us to the shore." 
" Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you." 
Let the little children of God's household pray. 
Shame on .the custom that requires ministers and 
deacons to do all the praying. Why, in our family 
it is the little ones that do the most of the praying ; 
and they make prayers that are heard and answered 
by us. Prayer is a means of saying something to 
God ; not to the people. You cannot make a suc- 
cess of talking over God's back to the people. God 
does not want to hear "the most eloquent prayer 
ever delivered to a Boston audience." Let the pray- 
erful prattle of the " little ones " be heard in God's 
house. They may not always pray understandingly 
{neither do the deacojis) ; but they will grow in grace 
and knowledge as to soon be able to pray in harmony 
with the will of God ; and thus get their prayers 
answered. " Let them delight themselves in God," 
and the " desires of their hearts " will be such that 
God cannot help granting them. But there are many 
Christians praying, "Father take me up," who are 
too weak to bear it. Better lie still awhile longer, 
and get more strength. Oh ! Father will take us up 
by and by ! " He will exalt us in due tiraeP 



PRAYER. 

Alas, how many pray by pattern, like a mechanic 
turning out a pretty stick in a lathe, only with less 
power! If they do not get the true taper to finish off 



PRAYEB. 445 

with the first time, they will run back to " the Jews " 
and try again. 

I do not believe in prayer as an "accomplishment," 
but as a necessity. Man needs and God accomplishes. 
It is to the soldiers of Christ what the commissary, 
ambulance and hospital are to the army. But men 
generally are so self-righteous and self-sufl5cient that 
if they pray at all it is not because they are in need 
of anything from God : all they need is that folks who 
see and hear them pray may know how good they are. 
"To be seen and heard of men." What an abomina- 
tion such prayers must be to the Almighty! God has 
to empty some of self before He can teach them how 
to pray in the Spirit; to produce in them a sense of 
need and contrition. A plea from such a heart God 
will not despise. 

No one. can read the book of Psalms understand- 
ingly without this conclusion. David doubtless knc^w 
what popular religion and prayers were in the palmy 
days of his youthful reign as king of Israel ; probably 
he had '* said his prayers" like other folks. But there 
came a time in his history when his tune became 
changed. You have seen an organ grinder stop and 
give a key a turn on the side of his organ, and then 
the dismal-looking box would send out belter music. 
Well, God has to give the key of prosperity a twist 
on some men, and put them under adversity in order 
to bring out the deep melodies of the soul. So David 
began now to cry his prayers instead of saying them. 
How often he says, "I cried unto the Lord and He 
heard me." Of course the Lord heard and answered 
such a prayer. It is the child that cries in dead earn- 
est, with heavy tears rolling down its cheeks, that 
gets speedy relief from his parent. But those other 



446 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

children who are chronical teasers; they are forever 
teasing for that they do not need, and would do them 
no good if they had it; and they stick to no one thing 
long enough to get anything. 

God knows what you need before you ask Him; 
and in most cnses gives it before people ask, and with- 
out their thanks, or they would starve to death. But 
it is needful for man to pray; and yet more needful 
for him to know his needs before he prays. I have 
seen children call for plum pudding and mince pie 
when they had other good food on their plates which 
should be eaten first. Children of a larger growth 
are sometimes just as childish. Our Heavenly Father 
loves to put plums into a clean plate. Let the chil- 
dren of God clean their plates with thanksgiving 
before they supplicate for more. 

" My God shall supply all your need." Need; not 
want. But there is such a thing as living in God's 
liouse and keeping filled up so that you will not want 
that which you do not need. Put a poor half-starved 
beggar into a king's palace with its bounteous pantry, 
and he would want enough to kill him; but let him 
fill up by degrees, and live there right along, and he 
would get so that he would not need much surveil- 
lance; he would only want what he needed, though 
it is all free. 

Some spend the most of their time away from God 
and the throne of grace, feeding on husks ; after a 
while they come home to God puffing and panting 
with such a loud, long prayer that you would rightly 
judge that they had not asked for anything for a year. 
Others abide in Christ, and tlis Word abides in them 
the year round; they know and do His will, and so 
they ask for what they will — for they will what He 



PRAYER. 447 

wills — and it is done for them. It does not take 
such persons long to ask for and get what they need, 
and so they have much time to " pray for all men." 
The silent sapplications of saints go further toward 
Heaven than the noisy demonstrations of devils. 

God is no respecter of persons, but He is of char- 
acters. There is no favoritism with God concerning 
persons. He does not punish one child and give a 
sugar-plum to another for the same acts. His govern- 
ment, rewards and punishments go straight ahead, 
and no prayer can change their course. But persons 
can change their course, and thus find the favor of 
God. Therefore prayer is designed more to put us in 
the condition to be blessed than to bring any blessing 
down to us. The current of Divine blessing is cours- 
ing constantly with swift and steady force over our 
heads, and all we have to do is to rise from self and 
breathe it in, and be borne on its wings to the shores 
of peace. 



DOES PRAYER PAY ? 

I DO not raise this question, but unbelievers have 
raised it and settled it in their own minds that it 
does not. If you were 4;o ask 'them how they knew, 
seeing that they never have tried it, they would 
reply, " See how that- Christian, or his family, is 
afflicted with sickness, and just note the prayers that 
are going up for them by themselves and others ; and 
yet restoration to health is r\ot brought about." Yes, 
yes, friend ; that is equivalent to saying that there is 
only one way to answer folks' prayers and that is 
your way. Did not you know that there is more 



448 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

than one way to solve most problems and the wisest 
head knows the best way? Paul could not pray the 
thorn out, but he could pray grace in enough to bear 
it comfortably. What did Paul care for the differ- 
ence ? It is simply a problem in substraction or 
addition. Instead of letting us solve the affliction by 
prayer that it may be substracted from us, the 
Almighty, for our good, doubtless, lets us know that 
it can be done by the addition of His wonder-work- 
ing grace and also by grace "multiplied." Prayer is 
answered all the same, provided we will let God 
have His way about it ; but if we chafe under it 
because it is not in our way, we may get no answer 
at all. There is nothing to shut off the flow of the 
Holy Spirit — Divine love and grace — but our puny 
selves ; and a man with an abundance of it ought to 
be happy, whether on his back or on his feet, whether 
in Jerusalem or on Patmos. David said, " Before I 
was afflicted I went astray." Then affliction taught 
David a very useful lesson as it may also us. God 
can bestow His smile of approval on a man in most 
any condition in life, and a man without it is miser- 
able anywhere — ' lacking the first principle of true 
happiness whether he is on a throne or in a dungeon. 

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, work- 
eth for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of 
glory. While we look not at the things which are seen, 
but at the things which are not seen : for the things which 
are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen 
are eternal. 2 Cor. 4 : 17, 18. 

Do you want the eternal weight of glory ? Then 
let the light affliction work. Supposing a man had a 
gold mine, and a hundred men volunteered to come 
during the j)eriod of his inability, but under his 



THE JUDGMENT. 449 

superintendence, and give him a week's work; how 
foolish he would be to seek a magistrate and have 
them arrested, would he not ? Well, the men of 
Gadara were worse than that ; they drove Jesus off 
for healing a maniac, because it cost the country a 
great herd of swine ; and Jesus was not to blame for 
it either, only in letting the Devil have his request to 
enter them ; and if the Devil does not ask any 
greater favor than to drown himself with a lot of 
hogs, he will be likely to get his prayers answered if 
some worldly minded professors do not get their's 
answered. 

Our own way is often the worst way. Pray we 
should, pray we must; but all prayer should be a 
communing with God, a seeking to know His will, 
with a determination to do it, or be reconciled to it. 
We may get our request sometimes when we are 
bound it shall be that or nothing, and get leanness of 
soul with it. (Ps. 106 : 15.) Fatness in the soul is 
the best thing to have, and, thank God, we can have 
that anywhere. 

Harken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, 
and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Isa. 55 : 2. 



THE GREAT HEREAFTER. 

Considerations of present popularity, present gain, 
the success of present personal schemes, should not 
shnpe our career; there is an awful hereafter looming 
up in the grim distance, like the Sphinx, to which we 
are approaching, and daily drawing nearer. We 
should think and act with reference to that day — the 



450 CRUMBS OF THE BKEAD OF LIFE. 

day of final accounts, when every man shall receive 
for the deeds done in the body, whether good or bad. 
The present is in our hands to improve upon, or fritter 
away, as we may elect ; but the hereafter is in God's 
hands, and its consequences we cannot avoid. But 
disregard of God's Word and the continued practice 
of sin are fast blunting the sensibilities of mankind to 
this great fact. Crime goes forward with emboldened, 
quickened step. Men seem to inwardly think that 
their houses shall continue to all generations. They 
call their lands after their own names. They specu- 
late and rob the fatherless, deprive the widow of her 
right, and grind the poor. Their eyes stand out with 
fatness ; they are not troubled as other men ; they 
flourish and enlarge the borders of their phylacteries. 
So they go on, and Heaven is silent. Earthquakes 
and cyclones do not discriminate yet between the 
good and the bad. The sun continues to shine, and 
the raiii to fall alike on the just and the unjust. The 
longsuffering of God constrains some to repent ; while 
otliers are emboldened in sin. 

But an abused Father — disregarded and disobeyed 
— a maligned Creator, though he is full of love and 
compassion, and tender mercy, "not willing that any 
should perish but that all should come to repentance," 
will at last speak, and take down the dusty rod of 
punishment, and use it upon a rebellious race. 

Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire 
shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous 
round about him. He shall call to the Heavens from above, 
and to the earth, that he may judge his people. Gather my 
saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant 
with me by sacrifice. Ps. 50 : 3-5. 

God is silent now, and sin is noisy; but when God 



THE JUDGMENT, 451 

speaks there will be silence amid the throngs of earth's 
pleasure-seekers. Then the wail of regret will break 
the painful suspense. Rocks and mountains will be 
invited to fall on troubled souls — troubled too iateto 
be saved — to hide them from the presence of Him 
that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the 
Lamb. 

Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right 
hand of power and coming in the clouds of Heaven. 

O yes, reader, there is a hereafter. Ponder this 
solemn announcement of the persecuted Savior of 
the world. The last words of good men on their 
death-beds are sought after; but these are the* last 
words of the Son of God to a sin-ridden world. They 
are prophetic words. Did a prophecy of his ever 
fail? Ask the historian concerning Jerusalem's over- 
throw, and read the last words of a rejected Savior 
toward it. 

Some tell us tliat wicked men who have died will 
never be raised to life. But this prophecy was 
directed to wicked men, who were shamefully abusing 
Jesus, with the intent of forcing some remark from 
Him which would be sufficient to warrant putting Him 
to death. Their efforts proved successful. He pro- 
phesied of His second advent ; that was enough to stir 
the ire of heartless professors. Away with Him! 
Such talk is blasphemy. But how will this prophecy 
ever be fulfilled, if those wicked persecutors are never 
raised from the dead? They will see Him, They 
must meet that hereafter. 

Behold He cometh with clouds and every eye shall see 
Him, and they also which pierced Him. 

This sweeping parallel prophecy excuses no one 



452 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

from attending the scenes of that great day. He will 
be vindicated by Jehovah before those who unjustly 
tried, persecuted, and put Him to death. And you 
will be there, reader, whether you live or die, whether 
you are good or bad. " We must all appear before 
the judgment seat of Christ." '* So must every man 
give account of himself to God." And suicide will 
not prevent it; if it would, how many who have thus 
gone down would be absent, and how many more 
would avail themselves of that, to them^ better alter- 
native. 

There is only one class for whom the hereafter holds 
out no fears, viz., those who have become reconciled 
to God. Their accounts at the Throne have been 
settled in advance through the legal representative, 
Jesus Christ, who came for that purpose, and arranged 
that it might be carried on until the end of time. 
Such are "looking for and hasting unto the day of 
God." This looking for, or expectation, costs them 
their reputation in this world; it brings to them 
sneers, scoffs and mocking. It raay cause them to 
wear a sad countenance here; but a sweet smile of 
relief will play upon their faces when the opening 
Heavens reveal a descending Lord. They will say, 

Lo, this is our God, we have waited for Him ; let us be 
glad and rejoice in His salvation. 

Dear reader, come into this blessed expectation. 
Then, let rocks rend, let earth shake. Whatever be 
your condition in this life, so order your life and con- 
versation that the hereafter will not be dreaded ; but 
that you may "love his appearing," and hail with joy 
the expected day. 



THE JUDGMENT. 453 

JUDGMENT AND MERCY. 

Thousands are burniDg advocates of what they 
call the mercy of God, — a sort of mercy contrary to 
Scripture, and which simply amounts to self-indul- 
gence. They have little to say of the judgment 
which the Bible sets forth — a judgment that destroys 
the adversaries of righteousness and peace. They 
think that to preach such a judgment they must lose 
sight of mercy. But such is not to be the case. 
God's judgment and mercy were united before man 
existed, and they never have been separated, nor ever 
will be. " His mercy endureth forever." 

Many seem to think that mercy must come to an 
end when judgment begins. Not so. When judgment 
speaks, mercy is not silent. Indeed, on that day of 
vengeance of our God, mercy may be said to begin to 
speak. Mercy for what? the sinner? Not in the 
broadest sense ; though it strikes me that it will be 
mercy that ends the sinner's miserable fate, seeing he 
has refused mercy's saving call. But for the saint 
does mercy begin to speak. God's mercy now is more 
particularly absorbed in interest for the unsaved, but 
on that day it shall speak gloriously for the down- 
trodden disciples of Christ. 

Shall Dot God avenge His own elect, which cry day and 
night unto Him, though He bear long with them? I tell 
you that He will avenge them speedily. Luke 18: T, 8. 
How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and 
avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth ? [cried 
the humble refugees of God's mercy under the altar.] And 
it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little 
season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, 
that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. Rev. 
6: 10, IL 



454 CUUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

Mercy is the avenger of God's elect. Having laid 
down their own carnal weapons, and fled to the shel- 
ter of Divine mercy for protection from th^ ruthless 
assaults of the enemy, shall not mercy avctige them ? 

God wills not to punish any — to kill any. He has 
"no pleasure in the death of the wicked." He "will 
have all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of 
the truth " ; and still He prolongs time for that very 
purpose ; — " the long-suffering of God is salvation.'^ 
But the time fast w^ears away when " Our God shall 
speak and not keep silence." 

Will there not then be another and better chance, 
when men come to see and know the real situation of 
things, to be saved? Not if our God "is no respecter 
of persons," and makes the salvation of others a mat- 
ter of faith. By grace are ye saved, through faith. 
Not after faith is swallowed up in sight. How much 
better to be saved now by God's mercy, than to be 
destroyed by it then? Destroyed by God's mercy? 
Yes. If, " for man's sake," after the fall. He must 
curse or blight with death the earth, for man's sake 
(those unprepared by their probationary chances) 
must He pronounce the blight of death upon when 
He removes the curse off the earth, making it immor- 
tal and never-fading. Mortal man could not live 
there. Fire is to be the consuming, purifying, reno- 
vating agent in the world's grand change. Unregen- 
erate man falls a victim to it, rather than that God 
designs it as an element of eternal torture to Him. 
Noah did not perish in the waves, neither will He 
who believes on Him — Jesus. John 3 : 16. 



THE RESTITUTION. 465 

THE GREAT RESTORER. 

Behold, I make all things new. — Rev. 21 : 5. 

It is said that " in the economy of nature nothing 
is lost," and this seems to be so as we study nature's 
methods. Out of the vileness of decay new forms of 
life and beauty will arise. The most fragrant roses 
that delight the nostrils and greet the eyes with their 
matchless colors grow best when their roots are well 
supplied with manure or some such fertilizer. And, 
too, in ihe economy of man, what wonders he will 
perform, as ignorant and short-sighted as he is. He 
seems to be more and more zealous that nothing shall 
be lost, and is daily finding new ways to utilize 
everything cast off as worthless, and bring out of it 
something new and useful. 

The garments that have adorned queenly shoulders, 
and find their resting-place sooner or later in the rag 
bag, after awhile take temj^orary lodgings with the 
junk dealer, and at last (if they do not go through 
the paper mill and return to the wearer to be written 
over with messages of love) they may come back 
from the manufacturer in some other guise or dis- 
guise with " silver threads among the gold " to adorn 
the same back that once wore them. Who knows? 
The seventh trumpet does not sound to declare that 
the mystery of " shoddy " shall be finished or 
revealed. Old friends and enemies in new clothes 
come back to us in more ways than one. 

'What appears to be utterly worthless to save, the 
ingenious artizan will take and remold into things of 
beauty that eyes which once beheld them in disgust 
will now look upon to covet. A smattering of chem- 
istry enables an ordinary man to be an economist^ 



456 CKQMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

but a thorough knowledge of it empowers him to 
almost declare that nothing is lost. What wonders 
of restoration he will perform with acids no one but 
an eye witness will believe. 

But all this sinks into the toys of child's play 
when we turn our attention to what God — the great 
Restorer, the Mighty Chemist, the Almighty Econo- 
mist — has promised that He will do, has done and is 
doing. He says, " Behold, I made all things new." 
Why should we dispute it ? Man makes many things 
new. It puzzles the ciitic to discern the old from 
the new in man's wonder-work of restoration. But 
we can say of a truth that in the economy of God 
nothing is lost. " The very hairs of your heads are 
all numbered," ^. e. , numbered in the infinite mind of 
God — in His memory — illustrating his exactness 
and carefulness in the eternal welfare of his people ; 
not that your hairs are numbered in a book or on the 
ends of the hairs. 

That glorious old doctrine of the resurrection, 
which does not trouble the faith of a child of God, 
but puzzles the skeptics, is but a simple part of what 
the great Restorer is going to do. As man, full of 
men's wisdom and destitute of faith, beholds the 
dissolution of the human body — its scattering to the 
four winds and utilization in the fertilization of 
other matter — he says, " This is the end. This old 
body will never be used again. It is cast off for- 
ever." But faith reiterates the promises of God, 
sings in confidence of their triumphant fruition, and 
rests there, waits and doubts not. 

Shall man, the lord of creation, for whom all othei 
things were made — the gem for which all else is the 
mere setting — shall woman, his peer in all things 



THE RESTITUTION. 457 

save physical strength — shall both these cease to 
exist with the sarting breathe of this insufficient, 
scanty, mere preface or prelude of a life ? My rea- 
son, if nothing more, rises up and with vehemence 
says NO. 

" Behold I make all things new." How soothing 
that fatherly benediction of a promise comes down 
upon our lacerated minds and hearts! He begins 
with man — just where decay began — in the moral, 
spiritual and faith department; and how new some 
men and women come out of the laboratory of God 
in this line. 

If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature : old things 
have passed away, and all things have become new. 

And he may sing and shout about his salvation all 
the way along, and never finish or begin the eternal 
anthem until he is ransomed from the grave — 
changed from mortal to immortality — when death is 
swallowed up in victory through our Lord and Savior 
Jesus Christ — and he finds his abode, the earth and 
all surroundings — the sky, air and birds overhead ; 
and the flowers, fruits, and creatures around him 
had the same renewing Hand pass over them. 

Oh, what a day, and what transporting scenes ! 
Tears gone, smiles arrived forever, and more coming. 
Pains banished and ecstatic pleasures liberated. No 
crying, but hosts of voices resound in holy merri- 
ment through hall and grove. Everything bad gone, 
and everything good coming, and every zephjT 
loaded with more to follow. 

O what an amazing change — 
A world created new. 

God help us to be there. 
20 



458 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

THE FIRST DOMINION. 

And thou, O tower of tlie flock, the strong hold of the 
daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first 
dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of 
Jerusalem. Micah 4 : 8. 

That this prophecy refers to Christ and His people 
is evident from the connected reading in the chapter; 
and that it has not been fulfilled we shall see when we 
understand what the first dominion or kingdom was. 

Dominion signifies: (1) Rule, government, suprem- 
acy, control, sovereignty. (2) Territory, region, coun- 
try. 

Now what was the first dominion? It must have 
been that which man first enjoyed, namely: an undy- 
ing state, likeness to God, rulership of the world, and 
control of the animate creation. Proof: Gen. 1: 26- 
28 : " And God said, Let us make man in our image, 
after our likeness : and let them have dominion over 
the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and 
over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the 
earth. So God created man in his own image, in the 
image of God created He him; male and female 
created He them. And God blessed them ; and God 
said unto them. Be fruitful and multiply and replenish 
the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the 
fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over 
every living thing that moveth upon the earth." 

This decree constituted Adam the lord or ruler of 
the creation, animate and inanimate. Every living 
creature was to obey his sovereign will. They were 
to obediently, faithfully and peacefully serve him in 
his royal state, as helps to his happiness. And God 
further exalted him by giving him the privilege of 



THE KINGDOM. 459 

naming them all ; and there was no dissenting voice 
to any of his decisions. And they were " broitght 
unto him" for that purpose. What royalty that! 
Man sitting in the highest kingly state, reviewing the 
procession of animate creation as they pass, and giving 
to each his first and perpetual name ! No potentate 
of earth reviewing his troops — many of whom would 
assassinate him, doubtless, if they could — can claim 
such exaltation. 

But the most important phase of this dominion was 
man's likeness to his Creator. In what did this con- 
sist? Some say, in his spiritual nature. We are of 
the opinion that it refers to the external man as well 
as to the internal; and also to the unlimited exercise 
of power which he was to use in making all nature 
serve him. 

That man has lost this dominion, it is evident by 
looking at him, his surroundings and his ability. 
Behold his unlikeness to his Maker, morally and spirit- 
ually ! See his deformed physique ; warped by disease 
and bent with age. From the throne to the scullery, 
getting his living by the sweat of his face, he has gone 
forth. The earth in all its elements is against him. 
The beasts and reptiles are terrors to him. He has 
lost the ability to govern even himself. He pays the 
penalty at last with death. 

How came all this? By his disobedience to God, 
the ruler in a higher realm than his. The dominion 
was delegated to man, and withdrawn when he had 
misused and abused it. 

Will man ever regain it? and how? Yes; through 
the Lord Jesus. *' The first man is of the earth, 
earthy : the second man is the Lord from Heaven." 
We are by nature surrounded by defeat ; but Christ, 



460 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

the conquering captain of our salvation, has burst the 
rank and file of the enemy. And He turns to us and 
bids us go forth under His wavingsword and banner 
to peace and power. We must follow Him, or perish. 
What assurances have we that we are thus to regain 
this dominion? First, the prophecy upon the subject, 
of which our text forms a part. A deliverer was 
clearly promised and described. Second, the life of 
Christ fills this prophetic mold. He claimed the 
office and showed His credentials. He came to save 
that which was lost. He began the conquest of man's 
lost dominion in the order in which it was lost. 1 
The moral or spiritual department. He met the 
tempter personally and was victorious at every point. 
He lays down the ethics of a new life, and teaches 
and helps man, first of all, bo obtain victory over self 
and Satan. Our own experiences and the testimony 
of others is proof that He does this part well. 2 He 
next shows His control of the elements of the world 
by turning the water to wine, calming the tempest, 
walking on the water, withering the fig-tree, etc. The 
experience of the three worthies in the fiery furnace 
is another exhibition of this. There was the "f Jrm of 
the fourth" there, "like unto the Son of God." 3 
His control of the animate creation. He has domin- 
ion over the fish of the sea. The disciples " toil all 
night" and catch nothing, but He appears on the 
scene, and at His command they inclose a netful at 
once. He reins up a fish to an apostle's hook, with a 
piece of money in his mouth, to pay his tax. He 
rides into Jerusalem on a colt whereon never man sat, 
in perfect peace, notwithstanding "they spread gar- 
ments and branches of trees in the way" and shout 
and sing the appropriate truth — "Hosanna in the 



THE KINGDOM. 461 

highest." But we have to "break" our colts before 
we can use them, and what a time we have of it ! 
And a very sober beast it requires to stand manage- 
able during much street excitement. 4 The physi- 
cal departnient. He meets disease, death and the 
grave, and comes out victorious. He shows His 
power to heal, restore and cure the worst afflictions of 
the human body. And at last, upon the summit of 
eternal victory and dominion, He sends up the glad 
and triumphant shout : " Fear not, I am the First and 
the Last : I am He that liveth and was dead ; and, 
behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen; and have the 
keys of Hell [the grave] and of death." Rev. 1 : 17, 
18. 

" Christ is our hope." And why should He not be ? 
Is He not ^''loorthy to receive glory and honor and 
power ? " 

With Him we are to gain the first dominion; and 
we are to share it with Him. " If we suffer, we shall 
also reign with Him." *' To Him that overcometh wiS 
I grant to sit with me in my throne." How clearly 
the Psalmist, in prophetic eloquence, describes that 
time when the glory of the Lord shall fill the whole 
earth as the waters cover the sea. " Oh Lord, how 
excellent is thy name in all the earth! " thus he com- 
mences and finishes the eighth Psalm. He contem- 
plates the glory of the star-lit heavens, and drops 
down to earth-scenes, and exclaims : " What is man 
that thou art mindful of him ! and the son of man that 
thou visitest him?" And he answers this qiiestion 
truthfully by remembering the terms of the first 
dominion and repeating them; and with prophetic 
eye sees it in fulfillment. Paul also, with his eyes 
anointed with holy eye-salve, in tracing out the pur- 



462 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

poses of God in Christ, catches hold of this iittenmce 
of David, and quotes it and comments upon it (Heb. 
2: 6-8), and sets it down as prophetic by his com- 
ment: " But now we see not yet all things put under 
Him." " For He must reign, till He hath' put all ene- 
mies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be 
destroyed is death. For He hath put all things under 
His feet. But when He saith All things are put 
under Him, it is manifest that He is excepted which 
did put all things under Him." 1 Cor. 15: 25-27. 
For Himself, personally, He has met and conquered 
all things ; but the victory will be complete when the 
Devil is dead and the saints are all alive. " Thanks 
be to God which giveth us the victory through our 
Lord Jesus Christ." " Equal with the angels," and a 
little above them, then we shall be, in one sense: 
'^For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection 
the world to come, whereof we speak." Heb. 2 : 5. 
Oh reader! consider the inheritance, honor and power 
that are in prospect for us if faithful to Christ. " But 
the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight 
themsc Ives in the abundance of peace." Ps. 37 : 11. 
" Peace like a river." " The wolf also shall dwell with 
the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid: 
and the calf and the young lion and the fatling 
together; and a little child shall lead them." Isa. 11 : 
6. " His dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and 
from the river to the ends of the earth." Zech. 9: 10. 
" And the kingdom and dominion, and the great- 
ness of the kingdom under the whole Heaven, shall be 
given to the people of the saints of the most High, 
whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all 
dominions shall serve and obey Him." Dan. 7 : 27. 
"And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy 



THE COMING OF CHEIST. 463 

to take the book and to open the seals thereof : for 
thou wast slain, and hath redeemed us to God by thy 
blood out of every kindred and tongue and people 
and nation ; and hast made us unto our God kings and 
priests; and we shall reign on the earth." Rev. 4: 
9,10. 



HE IS COMING! 

Christ is coming. How ? By proxy ^ some believe ; 
i.6., He is not coming personally, but He is coming 
by a visitation of circumstances. He came at the 
destruction of Jerusalem some think, and that fulfills 
the prediction of His coming in their view; others 
think He will come yet in some good measure — some 
great manifestation of the Spiiit, whereby the world 
will be converted, and His spiritual kingdom will 
overwhelm and submerge all earthly kingdoms, and 
politics will henceforth be conducted on pious princi- 
ples. Now such a view might be taken with several 
references to Christ's coming in the Scriptures ; but 
there are others that stand in the way of this inter- 
pretation, as the angel stood in the way of Balaam at 
a gap in the wall, and made it impassable. 

God did not leave it to poor mortals to do all the 
Advent preaching, but He deputized two preachers 
from the celestial conference down here just at the 
right time — the time of Christ's ascension — to do 
some preaching. Hark ! — " This same Jesus " — not 
some proxy, not some great ecclesiastical victory, 
some triumph of the church — but " this same Jesus 
which is taken up from you into Heaven shall" — 



464 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

*wliat? Ah! here is what i$ the matter with the per- 
sonality referred to in this jDassage. There would be 
no strain at interpreting it — to wrest it from its nat- 
ural meaning but for the well-known unpopularity of 
what follows : *' Shall so come in like manner as ye 
have seen Him go into Heaven." Acts 1 : 11. We 
shall take these words of the celestial preachers as 
they are. We have never heard in after revelations 
that these '' two men in white apparel " were repri- 
manded by the conference that sent them when they 
got back, for preaching the personal return of Jesus ; 
they were popular up there if their colleagues are not 
popular down here now. 

Here is another obstacle in the way of passing the 
teaching of Christ's coming off as a proxy matter — 
as an invisible, spiritual visitation. " The Lord him- 
self shall descend from Heaven," etc., 1 Thess. 4 : 16. 
Who? which? what? Not the Lord's Spirit, nor 
anything else; but "The Lord himself ^ This lan- 
guage means the literal, personal coming of Christ, if 
it means anything. "Not so fast," you say ; "He is 
coming personally in a spiritual manner ; not liter oMy 
— that is too gross." Well, how did He go up? 
*'This same Jesus which is taken up into Heaven 
shall so come " — so come ! how come ? Come as He 
went — - visibly. Did not they say, " a cloud received 
Him out of their sight?" Acts 1: 10. Then they 
saw Him go as far as the clouds — far enough to set- 
tle it how He will return ; He " shall so come in like 
manner." 

This language demands His personal return. In 
the execution of a legal document, the personal pres- 
ence of the person named in it is essential before the 
magistrate. " Personally appeared the said So and 



THE COMING OF CHRIST. 465 

SO, and made oath before me." Supposing he sent 
somebody else as a proxy, as it would be "too gross" 
for him to go in person ; that would not do ; it would 
not answer the expression in law. Nor will the com- 
ing of Christ by proxy, or invisibly, answer the 
expressions in the New Testament. The saints may 
enter the holy protest : you said you would come ; 
you said we should see you. 

Too gross for Christ to come Himself ! Is it too 
gross for a bridegroom to go after his bride himself? 
Or would it be better taste to send a proxy ? Was 
it too gross for Christ to go away visibly ? They 
"beheld." "A cloud received Him out of their 
sight." Then a cloud will reveal Him again, and so 
John got it right : " Behold He cometh with clouds, 
and every eye shall see Him" " Fall on us, rocks 
and mountains, and hide us from Him that sitteth on 
the throne," will be the sad wail of those who unwill- 
ingly behold His visible presence. " For the natural 
man discerneth not the things of the Spirit ; " no 
spiritual coming would trouble sinners so. 

But God's people will not consider His visible man- 
ifestation as " gross." They will talk like this : the 
prophet says : — 

Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will 
save us: IMs is the Lord [it is not His Spirit]; we have 
waited for Him — [yes, Him] ; we will be glad and rejoice in 
His salvation." Isa. 25: 9. 

" When the Son of man shall come " — at the 
death of His saints, with stealthy tread, when the 
wax tapers are burning low ? No, no, when He 

Shall come in His glory, with all the holy angels with 
Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory. Matt. 

25: 31. 

*20 



466 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

It is because He stays away that Lazarus and all 
His beloved ones die ; but He is coming ! Oh believe 
it, all ye that dwell upon the face of the whole earth 
coming in glory — coming with life-giving power, 
coming to raise the dead, immortalize the living, com- 
ing to invite " the blessed of His Father to inherit 
the kingdom prepared for them from the f oun dation 
of the world." 

To bring about this grand consummation it will be 
necessary to restore the territory of that contemplated 
kingdom — the earth — to its Edenic condition when 
the world was founded, and obliterate forever the 
footprints of evil in its vast domain. Oh righteous 
day ! for which all other days are made, we hail thine 
approach ; and, wide awake, watch, wait and work. 

His first coming surprised the Jews ; His second 
will surprise some church people. Hear : — 

But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, my Lord 
delayeth His coming; and shall begin to smite his fellow- 
servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken ; the lord 
of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for 
him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut 
him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypo- 
crites: there shall be weeping and gnasMng of teeth. 
Matt. 24: 49-51. 

Until that great day, work with might and main 
for the salvation of sinners. " Occupy till I come." 
" Work while the day lasts ; for the night cometh 
when no man can work." 



THE COMING OF CHKIST. 467 

LOVING HIS APPEARING. 

Just before his execution, with the issues of his 
life all made up, and the balance struck upon the 
ledger page ; the great Apostle to the Gentiles could 
truthfully say : — 

I am now ready to be offered and the time of my depart- 
ure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have kept the 
faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of right- 
eousness which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me 
at that day ; and not to me only, but unto all them also that 
love His appearing. 2 Tim. 4 : 6-8. 

" Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown ; " 
that is, from this time onward to " that day." The 
crown had not been laid up .for him during his pre- 
vious life for he might bave been a castaway and all 
such laying up for him would have been void; but 
now there was one in store for him to be given him 
— when? This is a vital question. Paul says, "at 
that day." What day? The context shows that the 
day referred to was the day of the Lord's appearing ; 
for he says that there is not only a crown laid up for 
him, " but unto all them also who love His appear- 
ing" This strongly implies that Paul loved the 
appearing of the Lord, and considered it a necessary 
prerequisite to claim "a crown of righteousness." 
Whatever men might say or think of Christian 
character or fellowship he knew that He, unto whom 
he had committed himself, would judge righteously, 
and not only lay in store for him a crown of right- 
eousness to be given him " in that day " when the 
Lord shall be revealed from Heaven with His mighty 
angels, taking vengeance on those who know not God 
and who obey not His Gospel, hut unto all them also 



468 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

who love His appearing. Take courage then, you 
who are scoffed at for your faith. Probably you are 
not treated any worse than was Paul. You never 
have had the day close with the sad knowledge that 
on the morrow you were to have your head cut off 
for your belief as was the case of the Apostle when 
he wrote these words. 

We have said that Paul expected his crown at the 
Lord's appearing, but some think that is at death. 
Now such a position is untenable from these very 
words, to say nothing of the grand teaching of the 
Apostle elsewhere in his several Epistles. The 
''crown of righteousness" which the Apostle ex- 
pected was a vindication of character. He was in 
prison and soon to be beheaded for his religious faith 
and teaching. If the Lord's appearing is at death, 
then he must have been fully vindicated at his execu- 
tion in an unmistakable manner. But such was not 
the case. He died in ignominy, as did the others, 
and his blessed Master before him. Christ told His 
persecutors at the judgment seat of Pilate that they 
would not see Him again until they saw Him " sitting 
on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds 
of Heaven." And they did not. The brethren saw 
Him ; but He had got through with His mission to 
His rejectors. *'They would not be persuaded 
though one rose from the dead," and Christ knew it 
and appeared not unto them. But He will appear. 
Let the wicked world despise and kill God's people if 
they will ; " at that day " they will " return and dis- 
cern between the righteous and the wicked, between 
him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not." 
Malachi 3:18. When ? ^' In that day when I make 
up my jewels, saith the Lord of hosts." Malachi 3 : 



THE COMING OF CHRIST. 469 

17. This world is destined to take a look at the 
Lord's jewel-tray some day. He has not been taking 
them off secretly " one by one " as poets sing. They 
are yet trampled under foot of those who know not 
the Lord's value. " But the Lord knoweth them that 
are His." Say what you please, cut their heads off, 
hustle them out of sight into a forgotten grave, there 
is One who hears all the conversation, and sees all 
that is done. They that fear the Lord are heard as 
well as those who revile. There is a book of remem- 
brance written ; 

And they shall be mine, saith the Lord, in the day when 
I make up my jewels ; and I will spare them as a man spar- 
eth his own son that serveth him. 

He will spare them in that day. Paul was not 
spared on the day of his execution. He served 
Christ by his death. '* Christ was magnified in his 
body" by death. He was not spared but he will be. 
There is another judgment day coming. That was 
Nero's judgment day ; the other will be Christ the 
Lord's. Somebody will need to be spared then. 
That will be Paul's day when he will receive the 
*' crown of righteousness," the vindication of his 
course. Paul will be remembered though eighteen 
centuries have swept over his precious dust. He is 
"written in the book" — in "the book of remem- 
brance " — in Christ. 

"They that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall 
suffer persecution " of some kind, either moral or 
physical or both — either is bad enough ; and they 
may die in dark ignominy, as almost all such people 
have done in the past ages ; but the. day cometh on 
apace when " the manifestation of the sons of God" 



470 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

will take place. This is " the earnest expectation of 
the creature " who loves the appearing of the Lord, 
and who, in his waiting attitude, by scoff, ridicule 
and oppression, is made to "groan within himself," 
though he enjoy the first fruits of the Spirit." He 
may know that he is spiritually adopted and between 
him and his Lord it may be all right ; but he yearns 
for bodily adoption. He longs for the perfect day 
when that which is in part may be done away ; when 
people will know as they are known. 

But it is not at death. That is the Adamic penalty 
which falls upon all, until " He who is our life 
ajDpears." Life was spread out before Adam and his 
posterity, as their possible wealth, and death was the 
consequence of failure. What wealthy son loves the 
rags and filth of his father's failure ? Would he not 
yearn for better days ? Even so " all that a man 
hath will he give for his life." God has planted an 
instinct in all living creatures to loathe death. " And 
the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." 
Christ does not destroy him at death ; death destroys 
for a time its victims. But at the resurrection the 
last enemy will be destroyed. 

Oh ! why should we not love the coming of our 
blessed Lord? There is no reason except a false 
theology. We love that best which is necessary to 
our happiness. If people go to happiness at death — 
into Heaven where Christ is — pray tell me how can 
we be taught to love His appearing at the last day ? 
We often chide many good people for not loving the 
Lord's appearing when in fact they have been taught 
la belief which is as far from it as goiyig and coming 
are opposite terms. Unless a disciple can see the fact 
that God in His Divine economy has been well 



THE COMING OF CHRIST. 471 

pleased to purpose that the second coming of His Son 
into the world is a grand necessity, I doubt much 
whether He can lOve that apjDearing to any great 
extent. There may be such a thing as crowns for 
those who do not love His appearing when they have 
had a false doctrine ever held before their eyes. I 
have seen animals kept in barren wastes with green 
pastures close at hand with the simple device of a 
board fastened before their eyes — a bare board. 
There is many a disciple of the Lord who loves Him 
dearly, who no doubt would gladly " love His appear- 
ing," but for the bare boards of the traditions of men 
before their eyes. The Lord grant that they may be 
speedily displaced, that these disciples, who would 
fain with Paul "depart and be with Christ," may 
know the blessed means of departure which is not 
death, but when 

The Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a 
shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump 
of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we 
which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with 
them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall 
we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another 
with these words. 1 Thess. 4: 15, 18. 

Not with those words which describe the coming of 
the Lord at death in a sly, stealthy manner. False 
theologians in Christ's day said of His body, that 
" His disciples came and stole Him away," but the 
Lord and His disciples do not so transact business. 
" God raised him from the dead," and so He will your 
dead friend if they ever "depart" or are "caught 
up" to be with the Lord. The Lord aid us to see 
the beauty of the coming of Him " who is our life," 
that we may " appear with Him in glory." 



472 



CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

THE RESURRECTION. 

They shall hear His voice. 




" He is risen as He said," notwithstandino^ the 
opposition, deceit and craft of men. They might as 
well have undertaken to have prevented the sun from 
rising. And they might as well try to stop its shin- 
ing as to 23revent the light of Divine truth from shin- 
ing. They can make it measurably dark for tliem- 
selves, but the light is bound to shine. Its powerful 
rays pierce the tomb and even the oppositions of men. 

'* He is risen as He said ; " not as Origen, Plato, 
Swedenborg, or anybody else said. The literal resur- 
rection of the Lord is a vital point in the Gospel ; 
and as soon as He was dead and buried Satan began 
to contrive to contravene it. But it came and they 
knew it ; and to prevent His disciples from knowing 
it, the chief priests and elders concocted a lie and 
paid for its publication. That hare-faced lie never 
did a millionth of the injury to the Gospel that the 
spiritualizing philosophy of later days has. The 



THE RESURRECTION. 473 

Devil has learned to mix truth with lies to make 
them palatable. 

Some doubt that there shall be a literal resurrec- 
tion, or restanding, of the dead ones. Well, there is 
a continued temptation by the enemy of truth to let 
faith lessen its grip upon important, vital, saving 
facts of Divine promise. Ah ! he has succeeded too 
well in this for the well-being of the church of God. 
You may believe almost anything except these 
" exceeding great and precious promises." These 
things affect the life as nothing else will, and Satan 
knows and regrets it. But though our doubts may 
keep us down now, they will not keep the dead down 
then. 

All that are in the graves [i.e., all the dead] shall hear His 
voice and come forth. Jolm 5 : 28. 

They cannot help it if they would ; their volition 
ceased with their expiring breath. It is " the day of 
the Lord" now. He so long silent in audible voice 
now speaks. It is " His times " — " the King of kings 
and Lord of lords." The head of the " king of ter- 
rors " — death — shall now be brought on a charger 
at the behest of this king himself, and immortal 
maidens shall sing and dance in perpetual glee. And 
the head of John the Baptist shall have an eternal 
union with the rest of the body ; and that adultress, 
whose intrigue caused it to be severed, will see it and 
waiL 

To me this promise of the literal resurrection of 
the dead seems the most easy of accomplishment of 
all the infinite things of Divine assurance. Oh, that 
sinners could be converted half so easy ! Then would 
our church aisles and altars be crowded with the pen- 



474 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

itent and the pardoned. Men are continually brac- 
ing themselves against the work of the Spirit here ; 
but who shall resist the command of the Lord of the 
dead ? When Emanual makes requisition upon him 
who now has the power of death {i,e. the Devil), who 
is going to resist if the Devil cannot? and he has 
already been routed. See Heb. 2 : 14. 

Give up! Keep not back! Bring my sons from afar, and 
my daughters from the ends of the earth. Isa. 43 : 6, 7. 

That voice shall go to the four points of compass, 
and from center to rim of earth. Who shall keep 
back? Ah ! all must obey. Some will gladly do so ; 
all must. 

We read in Matt. 27 : 52 that at the crucifixion 

The vail of the temple was rent in twai n from top to the 
bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and 
the graves were opened, and many bodies of the saints 
which slept arose and came out of the graves after His res- 
urrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto 
many. 

There was such a focalizing of Divine power to that 
locality that it seems the saints could not sleep ; they 
must be up and into the holy city. Who told them 
to get up ? Nobody that you or I know of. Nobody 
needs to tell you and I to arise any morning when we 
are aroused by the stir of day. These people proba- 
bly went back to their dusty beds for another nap. 
But if these folks got up at that small stir, what shall 
we say of the dead when the Son of God speaks ? 
—When 

The Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a 
shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump 
of God? IThess. 4: 16. 



THE RESURRECTION. 475 

Well, we need not say anything — the Bible an- 
swers the question — " they shall henr His voice and 
come forth." But you say, " they went to scattered 
dust and ashes long ago. How can that hear? We 
wish that backslidden church members could hear the 
voice of Jehovah as can matter. Have not the ele- 
ments ever obeyed Him ? How came they to wheel 
into line at His command at the beginning, and 
organize into things of beauty ? How did rough Gal- 
lilee smooth out at His word ? How did you^ you 
skeptic, ever come to stand on your feet now ? Did 
you come up yourself, or do we in Him live and move 
and have our being? Have you ever obeyed His 
voice and mended your ways. Until you have, never 
mind about scattered ashes. 

" Lazarus, come forth " ! Dr. Bonar says " if He 
had not specified Lazarus, all the dead in Jerusalem 
would have stood up." And so they would have ; but 
He wanted Lazarus then. And He will want all by 
and by ; and they will stand up, the wide earth over, 
and the sea also. The crested wave will then be 
crowned with ascending immortals. What an army 
will be on their feet at that day ready to move at His 
word ! Recruits rushing to the front from every 
locality as the farmers left their plows at Lexington, 
yet not like them, but immortal. Bodies waiting at 
railway stations for transhipments to points indicated 
on the paper tacked on the top of the box, will now 
have another destiny. Another Master of ceremonies 
has come upon the scene. Not to earth now, but 
heavenward, Not a ride in Nahum's chariots, but a 
ride in the chariots of God. No rude hands to shove 
and hustle the unknown about, but angelic arms to 



476 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

up-bear us to scenes of eternal grandeur. Ah ! who 
has been ticketed for such a ride as that? That is 
the question that should concern us today. 



LIVING AGAIN. 

If a man die, shall he live again ? — Job 14: 14. 

This was no query in Job's mind ; it was a settled 
point in his faith, if the preceding and succeeding 
statements to the text amount to anything, that man 
does actually die, and that he will be made to live 
again by his Creator's word of power. Pinned right 
on to the end of the question, without a hair's breadth 
of suspense between, is Job's confident personal 
answer to his own question. He appeals to a reason- 
able desire that he feels sure his Creator must have to 
resuscitate, revivify his former glorious handiwork — 
man's created being, his organic existence. 

This is a grand appeal. What old master is that, 
in painting, who would not desire to see an acknowl- 
edged master-piece of years gone by, which has 
become be-dimmed with age, again restored to its for- 
mer beauty, and the grimy colors brought out afresh ? 
And then he would ache to retouch it with a wiser 
hand. But God's work was wondrously wise at the 
beginning. Sin has terribly despoiled it ; but He has 
the power, and the desire and will, to '* make all 
things new," man included. His work is worthy of 
immortalization, but he will not perpetuate it in sin 
and misery. He has left that matter to our choice. 
He has set eternal life and eternal death before us, 
and by '' line upon line, and precept upon precept," 



THE HESURRECTION. 477 

witii tlie Holy Spirit to enforce it, has advised us to 
choose life. It is a boon to be sought after ; then, of 
course, not now possessed. What Christian is not 
seeking for glory and honor to be bestowed at the 
crowning day? Well, the Apostle (Rom. 2: 7) puts 
the jewel of immortality into the same casket with 
these other nuggets, to be bestowed upon us at the 
same time. 

No ; this question of Job's was not born of doubt 
or uncertainty. It is that forcible, interrogative way 
of declaring a truth ; and He expects the faithful to 
readily respond in the affirmative with a hearty 
response on the end of it. 

Just notice the way He puts that question. Dissect 
it. He does not inquire in this way to suit the 
notions of ancient philosophers, modern poets and 
current theologians — If a man seems to die does he 
continue to live ? Provided he had ventured so far 
on that hypothesis, he would be left in the shade by 
those today who boldly proclaim it as a fact. Job 
was settled in his mind as to the sphere and extent of 
death. He commences this chapter with the gloom of 
actual death, and finishes it in the light of a glorious 
resurrection. *'*Man dieth," he says, "and wasteth 
away : yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is 
Ae.^" Give this afflicted brother a chance to answer 
his own question. ''As the waters fail from the sea, 
and the flood decayeth and drieth up: so man lieth 
down and riseth not: till the Heavens be no more, 
they shall not awake nor be raised out of their sleep." 
If every Christian believed this old saint of God, Spir- 
itualists would lose a great portion of their patronage, 
in consulting the Devil and his imps. Job says of 
man that *' He cometh forth like a flower" — the 



478 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

same principle of germination in coming into life and 
growth is involved — "and is cut down" — death 
ensues by the same law. "He fleeth also as a shadow 
and continueth not." **Thou hast appointed his 
bounds that he cannot pass." It is useless to talk 
about a resurrection until we admit the fact of death. 
With death's cold, somber, gloomy background, the 
truth of the resurrection stands out in sparkling attrac- 
tiveness. 

"Well," says an inquirer, "when are you going to 
stop talking and writing about the resurrection?" 
We reply: When we join your ranks and believe we 
go to Heaven at death. We believe in consistency. 
As that is not likely to occur, we might say that we 
shall stop it when the resurrection has come to pass. 

It seems as though Isaiah hears Job's inquiry, and 
answers back from his watch-tower: "Thy dead men 
shall live, together with my dead body shall they 
arise." There is no need of that hymn : — 

If you get there before I do, 
Tell them I am coming too, 

For we shall arise "together," Isaiah with the rest. 
Job says, "Man dieth." "If a man die, shall he live 
again ? " And Isaiah replies, " Thy dead men shall 
live." We do not find much in the Bible about "the 
death of the body," or "the resurrection of the body," 
or the disposition of " the remains," so flippantly 
talked of nowadays ; but we do read a great deal 
there about men dying and living again, A man 
cannot live again until he has died once. 



THE BESUBRECTION. 479 

THE RESURRECTION MORNING. 

The morning of any expected eventful day is 
grand, especially if it is a cloudless one. With the 
earliest out-door activities occur the meetings, the 
greetings, the '' Good-mornings" of those to whom 
the day holds out bright hopes. But the mornini^ of 
the resurrection will excel all mornings. It will be 
the ushering in of an eternal day. It will be cloud- 
less to those who go to sleep hoping for that day. 
How these temporal days sometimes do disappoint ! 
We go to rest hoping for a bright to-morrow, there 
is so much in the balance depending on it ; but alas ! 
the earliest consciousness discovers the relentless 
storm. Not so will be that morning to the saints of 
God. Go to your earthen pillow, tired saint, with 
the assurance of eternal brightness. 

What a grand hope is this ! Up with that morn- 
ing come the sleeping millions of earth. Up come 
fathers, mothers, sisters, wives, husbands, children. 
Up come the playmates of our childhood to see us in 
our eternal manhood. Now vnll come the story of 
our mortal life since we left them; our trials, our 
narrow escapes, our finding of salvation. What a 
heavy freight of good things the coming of the Lord 
will bring : not the least nor the last in the train will 
be the resurrection. . That follows close on the 
advent itself. "The Lord Himself shall descend 
from Heaven with a shout ; " then up come the sleep- 
ing ones. The shout is the Lord's call to His sleep- 
ing children. " Up ! Father's calling," The sprightly 
step will take the place of the faltering gait with 
which the night of death closed in. " Thou shalt 
call and I will answer," said Job, it seems, prophet- 



480 CRUMBS OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

ically. How tombs, caverns and ocean depths will 
reverberate with the answer of God's children. 
" Father has come ! " " Jesus is here ! " 

This hope of the children of God should not be 
covered up with less attractive matter in the field 
of theology. It is no time now, if it ever was, to 
regulate this truth to the background of faith. 
Bring it up ! Fetch it forward ! the event is near. 
Paul was " called in question " for this hope, that is, 
for preaching it. He must have preached it too 
often to salt some. But it would not take many jails 
to accommodate all who might be arrested on any 
Sunday (except Easter) for preaching it now, would 
it? It would be better for us to have Paul's hope, 
even though we had to be bound with his chain for 
preaching it, than to be fettered as some are with 
popular theology. 

How mightily enthralling are habits of thinking ! 
It is as easy for a drunkard to break away from his 
cups. " But if ye believe not, yet He abideth faith- 
ful." " He is faithful that promised. Who also will 
do it." What are Nero's chains in the Divine 
power? What are Philippian jail-locks? What are 
earth-clods, decomposition, scattering of the ele- 
memts, or the incorporation of them into other mat- 
ter to do with the obstruction of the Divine power ? 
like Paul and Silas to the jailor, the particles of the 
human body, if they could speak, would sing out to 
those who are committing the suicide of faith with 
false theories with respect to the future state, '' Do 
thyself no harm ; we are all here ! " They will em- 
phatically say so on the resurrection morning. " The 
hairs of your head are all numbered." 

Has not God promised the resurrection? Yes. 



THE RESURRECTION. 481 

Well, what have you to do about it, but to believe it, 
Well, I cannot see how it can be done." Oh ! then 
it cannot be done till men see into it. 

How mysterious, then, that God could have created 
man in the first place, without man to see into it, 
advise and help Him out of the trouble ! There are 
many things that have transpired right along some- 
time ahead of man's finding out how they were done. 
Even today they are speculating and debating about 
things which were settled in God's mind thousands 
of years ago. What would be done anyway by the 
Almighty if man's comprehension had to be waited 
for ? Remember that the Devil is an obstructionist 
but God is a constructionist. 



INDEX. 



CHAPTEK I. 

PAGE 

The Bible and Human Experience 7 

Believing the Bible. 10 

The Bible our Guide . 11 

Licking off the Sugar 13 

'Stablish Your Hearts 16 

Lift up the Standard 19 

Harmony of Bible Doctrines . . . . . ,21 

Practical and Doctrinal 23 

A Hidden Gospel . .26 

The Channel of Divine Power 27 

Know the Power . .30 

CHAPTER II. 

The Origin of Sin . . 32 

Sin Necessary . 35 

The Author of Sin a Person 37 

The Purpose of Evil ........ 38 

Responsibility for Sin . . * 41 

What is Sin . 43 

CHAPTER IIL 

That Worthy Name . . ...... 46 

Jesus Only 49 

Substance or Shadow ........ 51 

Our Satisfying Portion 55 

The Mystery of Faith 57 

Christ's Pre-existence 61 

Christ our Honor 65 

The Silence of Jesus 67 

The Fountain of Youth 70 

Intercession 74 



484 INDEX. 

He Can be Touched . .76 

What Think Ye of Christ . . . . 78 

Keeping Silence 82 

CHAPTER lY. 

God's Love for the Sinner 85 

Behold 86 

What shall I do with Jesus 89 

Ye Must be Born Again . . . . . . . 91 

The Ax at the Root 94 

Look unto God . . 97 

The Lesson of Experience . . . . . . 100 

Lacked ye Anything 103 

Common Things 106 

Trespasses . . . . . . . . . 108 

Pure Religion Ill 

Living on Christiaa's Faults 114 

Buried Consciences . . . . . . . . 117 

All are Invited 120 

Universal Salvation . . . . . . . . 122 

A Legacy 124 

Long Headed and Short Sighted 127 

One Price Only . . 129 

Living Sacrifices 132 

Not Ashamed to be Called their God .... 134 

CHAPTER Y. 

Ingersoll and the Bible 138 

Worship 141 

Doubts 142 

Doubters . 145 

No Pretentions 147 

The Plainness of the Way 149 

CHAPTER YI. 

Faith and Works .- .153 

Essentials to Salvation 155 

Faith and Fruits 158 

Faith and Works — a Span 160 



INDEX. 485 

Faith and Eesults 162 

Consistency . 164 

Repentence . , 166 

Obedience . . . 168 

The Spirit-government 170 

Willing for a Season 172 

Contention and Obedience . . . . . . 175 

Forgiving and Forgetting 177 

Promise and Performance ,..,.. 179 

Baptism 182 

Who Should be Baptized 184 

Baptism — what for 186 

Baptism — what Mode 188 

The Holy Ghost . . . . . . . . 191 

Christian Power 193 

Waiting for Power . . 195 

Christ in You 197 



CHAPTER YII. 

A Personal Adversary 201 

Satan's Devices 204 

Who is Tempted 209 

Temptation 210 

The Sand-blast 212 

Captivated with Philosophy and Yain Deceit . . 214 

CHAPTER YIII. 

I and Thou 217 

Condescension and Contentment 218 

Rejoicing in Others' Downfall . . . . . . 220 

Making Him King 222 

Twofold Things . . 224 

A New Creature , 227 

Rejoicing and Groaning 229 

Hard Work of it . 233 

Going on unto Perfection 237 

Varied Experiences 238 

Entire Sanctification . . . , . . . - 245 

Perfection 247 



486 INDEX. 

CHAPTER IX. 

Traveling for a Blessing 251 

Sanctified Grit 252 

Consecration . . . . 254 

Partakers of the Divine Nature 256 

Holiness 259 

A Clean Heart 264 

Our Thoughts 265 

Holy Calmness .266 



CHAPTER X. 

The Place for our Affections . . . . . . 269 

Lost Power . . . , . . . . . 272 

Reading Life Upside Down 273 

Transformation . . 275 

Assurance 280 

Full Assurance of Hope . 283 

CHAPTER XL 

Finding out the Devil ....... 286 

Wiping off Mud 288 

Keeping Power 289 

Working Power Keeps . . . , . . . 292 

The True Vine . . . 294 

Preventive Treatment 295 

Ice-bound Christians 298 

The Abiding Joy 299 

My Peace give I unto You 303 

Humility 305 

Counterfeit 307 

Out-graced Christians . . . . . . . 310 

Means of Grace 313 

Patience 316 

Patient in Tribulation 319 

Wait . 321 

Faith 824 

The Christian's Sphere 327 

Faith and Science 330 

Have Faith in God 333 



INDEX. 487 

The Summit of Faith 336 

The Invisible Guide 339 



CHAPTER XII. 

A Reason for your Hope . 343 

Experience and Hope 345 

Trusting and Doing 347 

Secret Insurance Societies 349 

Religion at Home 354 

Christ in the Home 356 

Contagious Moods . . 358 

The Sulks .... 359 

The Salvation of Children 362 

Individual Religion 363 

Fretting 366 

Put on Charity 368 

Charity . 370 

Charity in Practice 372 

Oil for Fresh Wounds . .373 

Nothing without Charity . c . . . . 376 

Giving . . 379 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Sent 382 

Saul Sent to Preach the Gospel 384 

Ears to Hear . . 389 

Sowing the Seed 391 

Plain Things 392 

A Bad Spirit 395 

Smartness 399 

Stopping Mouths 401 

Suppressing Truth 404 

Submission to God 405 

He Means Me 407 

Misapprehension and Prejudice 410 

Sentimental Piety 411 

Mighty Men Needed 414 

Selfishness among Christ's Servants .... 417 

Pointed Truth 421 



488 INDEX. 

The Minister who will Draw 422 

Speaking the Truth in Love 425 

Kightly Dividing the Word 427 

Among the Stumps 429 



CHAPTER XIY. 

Communing With God . 431 

Pray for Us 434 

Praying for Patience 436 

Prayers Hindered 438 

Particular Praying 439 

Long Petitions 441 

God Loves to Hear you Pray 442 

Prayer . . 444 

Does Prayer Pay 447 

The Great Hereafter 449 

The Great Restorer 455 

The First Dominion 458 

He is Coming 463 

Loving His Appearing 467 

The Resurrection . . . . . . . . 472 

Living Again 476 

The Resurrection Morning 479 

Index . 483 



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